"5·18 Spirit Included in One-Point Constitutional Amendment"... Ruling and Opposition Parties Compete to Win Honam Public Sentiment

Ruling Party Sets Aside Controversy Over Kim Jae-won, Vows to Revive the Meaning of 5·18
Opposition Meets Traditional Supporters to Strengthen Approval Ratings

On the 43rd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the ruling and opposition parties are launching an all-out effort to win over the Honam region's public sentiment. The ruling party, which faced backlash in Honam due to Kim Jae-won's, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, remarks opposing the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the constitution, is sending all its members of parliament to Gwangju. In response, the Democratic Party of Korea has pulled out the one-point constitutional amendment card to include the May 18 spirit in the constitution and is working to defend its stronghold.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the party's expanded executive meeting on the morning of the 17th, "It is time to uphold the inclusion of the Gwangju May 18 Movement in the preamble of the constitution, which was a pledge of both President Yoon Seok-yeol and the Democratic Party," adding, "I officially propose and ask the government and ruling party to cooperate so that the 'one-point constitutional amendment' for including the May 18 Democratic Uprising in the constitutional preamble can be carried out in line with next year's general election."

Lee will visit Gwangju on a one-night, two-day schedule that afternoon. After paying respects at the Mangwol-dong National Democratic Martyrs' Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, he plans to join the "Democratic Peace Grand March" held on Geumnam-ro, the symbolic street of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The next day, he will attend the 43rd anniversary commemorative ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery. He also plans to visit Yang Geum-deok, a victim of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, who is currently hospitalized in a Gwangju hospital. Former President Moon Jae-in also visited Gwangju that day to pay respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery. It was his first visit to Gwangju in two years and one month since the Gwangju Global Motors factory inauguration ceremony in April 2021.

Lee's move to bring out the one-point constitutional amendment card to include the "May 18 spirit" appears to be an attempt to counter the ruling party's courting of Honam. The People Power Party has decided that all its members will attend the commemorative ceremony on the 18th. Lee Cheol-gyu, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, said in a KBS radio interview that "not only current lawmakers but also 43 heads of party branches in the metropolitan area will attend," adding, "Lawmakers and party branch heads representing party members will attend the event as much as possible to revive the meaning of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and to participate in an event that reflects on its historical value."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, plans to hold a meeting with Honam youth to hear their concerns during this visit to Gwangju. The eve event will involve young politicians centered around Supreme Council member Kim Byung-min. It is the first time in eight years since 2015, during Kim Moo-sung's leadership, that the People Power Party leadership will attend the May 18 eve event. Following the severe disciplinary action against Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won, who caused controversy with his remarks opposing the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the constitution, and with all party members attending the commemorative ceremony, this is seen as an attempt to soothe the worsened public sentiment in Honam. Jang Ye-chan, a young Supreme Council member, said on CBS radio that "this is not just an effort to make up for mistakes caused by some Supreme Council members' verbal missteps," adding, "As in last year and during the presidential election, we will strive to show consistent sincerity toward Honam."

The May 18 Democratic Uprising was triggered in 1980 when the Chun Doo-hwan regime suppressed protests in Gwangju with public authority, resulting in many casualties. Although it was established as a legal commemorative day in 1997, conservative governments often refrained from attending the ceremony, fearing that recognizing May 18 as a democratic movement would undermine the legitimacy of conservatism. Late former President Roh Moo-hyun and former President Moon Jae-in attended the ceremony every year, but Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye attended only in their first year in office and sent the Prime Minister instead, sparking controversy over neglect. President Yoon Seok-yeol attracted attention last year by attending the May 18 commemorative ceremony along with all current People Power Party lawmakers after his inauguration.