'10 Days Until Constitutional Amendment Vote' Woo Won-shik: "Is the People Power Party Tied to 'Yoon Again'... Must Take Responsibility if Blocked"

Woo Won-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly, took direct aim at the People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the June 3 nationwide local elections, criticizing their opposition to holding a constitutional referendum in conjunction with the elections. He stated, "Some are questioning whether the group that dislikes constitutional amendments the most is the 'Yoon Again' faction, and there are also claims that the PPP leadership is tied to the 'Yoon Again' group." He called on members to participate in the National Assembly vote on the constitutional amendment, which is just ten days away.

On April 27, during a press conference at the National Assembly, Speaker Woo said, "I cannot help but ask Representative Jang Dong-hyuk: By blocking the opportunity for constitutional amendment that has come after 39 years, what does the PPP hope to gain?"

Woo Won-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is holding a press conference in the National Assembly reception room on the 27th and making remarks regarding the constitutional amendment proposal. 2026.4.27 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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He continued, "The PPP has previously stated multiple times that they oppose the 12·3 Martial Law. If the party continues to block a constitutional amendment that would ensure illegal emergency martial law can never be considered again, I hope they reflect deeply on whether anyone will believe their genuine opposition to the 12·3 Martial Law."

He added, "If the amendment fails due to the party's official stance, the PPP must bear full responsibility. At the very least, PPP lawmakers should be able to vote on the amendment in the plenary session according to their own conscience and convictions."

He also stated, "On the 28th, we will hold another joint meeting with the six relevant parties to review these issues."

Previously, 187 lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, excluding the PPP, proposed a constitutional amendment bill that includes a clause in the preamble to "inherit the democratic ideals of the Busan-Masan Democratic Uprising and the 5·18 Democratization Movement." The amendment also contains provisions to strengthen parliamentary control over martial law, such as requiring immediate National Assembly approval when martial law is declared.

This constitutional amendment bill is scheduled to be put to a vote during the National Assembly's plenary session on May 7.

Passing a constitutional amendment requires the approval of at least two-thirds (197 members) of the total 295 lawmakers, making it essential to secure support from some PPP members (who currently hold 107 seats).

In particular, if lawmakers who have been nominated as candidates for metropolitan mayoral positions resign, the number of PPP defections required to pass the amendment is expected to increase further.

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