Original Government Records Revealing the 6th and 7th Constitutional Amendment Processes Released

National Archives, Launches 'Rediscovering Cabinet Meeting Records' Content Highlighting Constitutional Amendment Process

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Original records showing the process of the 6th constitutional amendment (revision) promoted by the Park Chung-hee government in 1969 and the 7th amendment carried out in 1972 will be disclosed.

The National Archives of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 22nd that it will release the content titled "Rediscovery of the Cabinet Meeting Minutes," which includes government records containing the 6th and 7th amendment processes with added commentary, through the National Archives website on the 23rd. Since 2018, the National Archives has been gradually releasing cabinet meeting minutes to allow important national records to be utilized for private research and other purposes.

First, the 6th amendment records from 1969, known as the "3-term amendment," contain the processes aimed at extending the president's term to three consecutive terms. Among the records held by the National Assembly, a "Questionnaire Urging Normalization of the School Emergency Situation Related to the 3-term Amendment" sent by the opposition party to the president during the constitutional amendment discussions in the National Assembly, as well as the government's response submitted to the National Assembly, were also disclosed.

According to the "Minutes of the 72nd National Assembly," when the 6th amendment bill was passed in the National Assembly, only ruling party members moved to the National Assembly annex in the early morning hours and passed it unanimously.

The 7th amendment in 1972, known as the "Yushin Constitution," was proposed through an emergency cabinet meeting under the nationwide martial law and confirmed through a national referendum. Among the disclosed records, the "Letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly on the Occasion of the Declaration of National Emergency" is a presidential letter sent along with the emergency law to the National Assembly in December 1971, providing insight into the relationship between the president and the National Assembly at that time.

The "Agenda on the Declaration of Martial Law (72nd Meeting)" was a cabinet meeting agenda on October 17, 1972, handwritten in title and format, indicating the urgency of the situation at the time. From October 23, a week later, an emergency cabinet meeting was established to perform the role of the National Assembly.

The president's "Special Statement (On the Occasion of the Announcement of the Constitutional Amendment Bill)" released along with the announcement of the constitutional amendment bill included the claim that "Korean-style democracy is necessary rather than immaturely imitating others' democracy."

Lee So-yeon, director of the National Archives, said, "By re-examining the constitutional amendment discussions contained in important records such as the cabinet meeting minutes, we hope people will appreciate the precious value of these records and that education and research utilizing national records will be further activated."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.