National Assembly Begins Vote on Constitutional Amendment... Woo Wonshik: "Setting a Party Line Against and Blocking the Vote Is Unacceptable" (Update)

Speaker Woo Wonshik Presents Constitutional Amendment Bill... Ruling and Opposition Parties Debate Pros and Cons
People Power Party Proposes "Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment in the Latter Half of the 22nd Assembly"
Chun Junho Criti

On May 7, the National Assembly tabled a constitutional amendment bill at a plenary session. The proposed amendment includes provisions to strengthen martial law requirements, enshrine the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests in the Constitution’s preamble, and promote balanced regional development. With the People Power Party refusing to participate in the vote, the likelihood of the amendment’s passage is considered low; nonetheless, the National Assembly proceeded with a roll-call vote.

Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, as he introduced the amendment bill at the plenary session on May 7, emphasized its significance by stating, “This is about opening the door to constitutional reform so that our outdated 39-year-old Constitution can reflect the changes of the times, guide us into the future, and embrace the happiness of our people.” He added, “The bill was sponsored last month on May 3 by 187 lawmakers, including myself, Han Byungdo, Seo Wangjin, Yoon Jungho, Chun Haram, Yong Hyein, and Han Changmin, and it has now been tabled at the plenary session.”

Han Byungdo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, explained the proposal, saying, “The National Assembly must pave the way for constitutional reform so that the sovereign people, who are the true owners of the Constitution, can make the final decision through a national referendum.” He earnestly appealed for cooperation so that the amendment could be passed.

Yonhap News Agency

However, on this day, the People Power Party did not enter the plenary chamber, opposing the vote on the constitutional amendment.

Chun Junho, Senior Deputy Floor Leader for Parliamentary Operations of the Democratic Party, criticized this move by saying, “The real reason the People Power Party is not participating in the vote is to defend unlawful martial law. This amounts to a thorough betrayal of the people’s will to prevent insurrection and of our history of defending democracy.”

Han Changmin, floor leader of the Social Democratic Party, called out the names of People Power Party lawmakers who had entered the plenary chamber in opposition to martial law during the emergency martial law declaration on December 3, 2024. He appealed, “The future of the Republic of Korea’s Constitution and democracy depends on your decisions.”

The People Power Party officially announced its opposition to the passage of the amendment bill. Yoo Sangbum, Senior Deputy Floor Leader for Parliamentary Operations of the People Power Party, stated during a procedural speech, “We are by no means opposed to constitutional amendment itself. If we are to amend the Constitution, it should be done in a way that upholds liberal democracy and the rule of law, and only after careful and repeated deliberation to reflect the true will of the people.” Yoo proposed, “I suggest that the ruling and opposition parties of the second half of the 22nd National Assembly agree to form a special committee on constitutional amendment, so that a comprehensive amendment can be discussed, encompassing everything from the preamble to the restructuring of the power structure.”

After the debate concluded, the National Assembly began the roll-call vote procedure. Speaker Woo and the Democratic Party indicated that they would wait for the People Power Party members to enter the plenary chamber.

Speaker Woo stated, “Given the gravity of the constitutional amendment bill, I will allow some additional time. Denying the people the opportunity to determine the amendment’s fate through a national referendum—by refusing even to hold a vote in the chamber—would be an overreach of the authority entrusted to us by the people.” He stressed, “To set party policy in opposition and trample on the conscience and convictions of those in favor by abstaining from the vote is unacceptable.”

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