"May Spirit Ignored Again"... Gwangju Outraged as May 18 Constitution Amendment Fails

Constitutional Amendment Vote Fails Amid Boycott by People Power Party and Reformist New Party

Civil Society: "Abandoning Historical Duty"... Kang Gijung: "Devastated, Blocking the People's Referendum"

Opposition Bloc, Including Democratic Party, Plans to Attempt Another Vote on May 8

The pledge to "inscribe the spirit of May into the Constitution" has once again failed to clear the threshold of the National Assembly. On May 7, the constitutional amendment bill that included a preamble referencing the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising fell short of the quorum needed for passage at a plenary session of the National Assembly. In response, civil society groups in Gwangju strongly objected, accusing the political establishment of shirking their historical responsibility.

Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju, also spoke to reporters at the National Assembly shortly after the vote was declared invalid, expressing deep disappointment. "I am truly devastated," he said. "Does the National Assembly even have the right to block the people's vote on constitutional amendment? It is deplorable that, in the end, the opportunity for the people to vote on constitutional amendment has been taken away." He continued, "This boycott of the vote is not merely an act of opposition but a move to block the people from even having a referendum on constitutional change. People Power Party lawmakers will face grave responsibility for this."

Mayor Kang further questioned, "Should the People Power Party, funded by taxpayer money, even be allowed to continue as a political party?" He added, "Looking at the empty seats, I am now resolved to campaign for the disbandment of the People Power Party." He also said, "With the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising approaching, I am concerned about how People Power Party lawmakers will mark the month of May," and lamented, "Including the May 18 Uprising and the Busan-Masan Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution was about reaffirming the history of the democratization movement, so its failure is truly disheartening."

Woo Won-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly, declared that the vote on the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea was invalid due to the absence of a quorum, as members of the People Power Party did not participate in the vote during the first plenary session of the May extraordinary session held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The National Committee for the Inclusion of the Spirit of May 18 in the Constitution's Preamble (the Committee), comprising more than 260 organizations including the May 18 Foundation and other related groups, issued a statement the same day. "Including the spirit of May 18 in the preamble of the Constitution has been a long-standing demand of the people and a task of our era, but in the end, the National Assembly failed even to hold a valid vote on the amendment," the statement read. "We will hold politicians accountable for ignoring the demands of the people."

The Committee specifically criticized the People Power Party, which did not attend the plenary session, saying, "This is not only evasion of responsibility but also a self-imposed rejection of the chance to reform an outdated constitutional system." The statement went on to point out, "The session was also an opportunity to demonstrate the will to restore and break from the constitutional order that collapsed after the 12·3 Martial Law incident, but lawmakers failed to prove this through action."

Criticism was also directed at the Democratic Party of Korea. The Committee stated, "If the Democratic Party, which holds the majority, had truly intended to pursue constitutional amendment, it should have overcome the current impasse through more proactive political strategy and negotiation. Failing to enact even the most basic constitutional amendment, which has broad public support, is a result of incompetence and an undeniable political responsibility."

The Committee emphasized, "The May 18 Democratic Uprising is a historic struggle that defended democracy against state violence and dictatorship. To enshrine that spirit in the Constitution is not a matter of choice, but a historical duty that must be fulfilled." It further called on the political establishment to "acknowledge their responsibility without delay and immediately restart discussions on constitutional amendment."

Earlier that day, the constitutional amendment bill—which included provisions to incorporate the spirit of May 18 into the preamble—was tabled at the National Assembly's plenary session. However, the absence of lawmakers from the People Power Party and the Reformist New Party resulted in a lack of quorum, and the vote was declared invalid.

The opposition bloc, including the Democratic Party of Korea, which jointly sponsored the amendment, plans to attempt another vote on May 8.

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