The article discusses the challenges of pursuing constitutional amendments in South Korea, attributing the difficulties to political polarization exacerbated by hate and confirmation bias. It outlines how the political power has shifted from party leaders to members of the National Assembly, and from there to extreme party loyalists, which has led to a faction of the electorate being increasingly influenced by extreme ideologies. The overwhelming sentiment of this group ignores expert opinions advocating for changes to prevent the consolidation of power in a single president, arguing instead for a multi-party system that can foster a more balanced political environment.

The author highlights that the crux of constitutional reform should focus on changing the presidential term to a four-year, two-term system to dilute the powers of a monarchy-like presidency, alongside a shift in the electoral system to support multi-party democracy. However, the entrenched far-right fans of political factions refuse to accept these changes as they see the political arena in binary terms—'us' versus 'them'—and desire a system that allows only their preferred party to hold dictatorial power. This desire for unconditional dominance leads to deeper polarization rather than the cooperative politics that a constitutional reform could encourage.

The article also reflects on the brief window of opportunity for constitutional change that arose during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, alongside the subsequent elections. This period prompted discussions within the Democratic Party regarding legislative partnerships among various political candidates, which could have paved the way for a reformist agenda. Ultimately, the malignant political climate forged by extreme factions within the major parties presents a major threat to the constitutional change necessary for restoring democracy and effective governance in South Korea.