Korea's ruling and main opposition parties... remain in a standoff over how to revise the nation's decades-old Constitution.
With no visible progress being made, the minor blocs are pressing the two sides to get past their political differences and meet half way for the sake of the country.
Park Hee-jun has the details. Minor parties want a speedy settlement on the constitutional revision.
In a joint statement Thursday,... the Bareun Mirae Party, Party for Democracy and Peace, and Justice Party demanded that the ruling Democratic Party and main opposition Liberty Korea Party reach a compromise-- saying that the important issue of constitutional revision has been stuck in gridlock due to their partisan disputes.

They also urged the major parties to present a clear alternative to the current electoral system,... so that the system can better represent the people.
The joint statement called for an agreement on the reform of the electoral system,... through a political negotiation body that consists of the floor leaders of the parties and their members.

Top officials of the minor parties later met Democratic Party floor leader Woo Won-shik and Liberty Korea Party floor leader Kim Sung-tae to deliver their message.
They proposed establishing a separate council of top representatives from the four floor negotiation blocs to make progress on the constitutional amendment.

While Woo welcomed the idea of a new body,... he emphasized that the party adheres to the government's bill on reforming the power structure.
Meanwhile, Kim turned down the proposal,... but said his party will make efforts concerning the electoral system.

Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.