5·18 One-Point Constitutional Amendment Talk Emerges... Why the Temperature Gap Between Ruling and Opposition Parties?

Minju "Yoon's Pledge, So Why Hesitate?" Pressure
Presidential Office "Isn't This a Trick to Shift the Situation?"

The ruling and opposition parties are showing differing stances over the so-called 'one-point constitutional amendment' to enshrine the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in the constitution. The Democratic Party of Korea pressured the government on the 18th, the 43rd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, to fulfill the pledge of enshrining the May 18 spirit in the constitution, but the government and ruling party emphasized the importance of national consensus and procedures, expressing differing views.

Enshrining the May 18 spirit in the constitution was also a campaign promise of President Yoon. For the second consecutive year, President Yoon attended the May 18 memorial ceremony last year and this year, emphasizing that "the May spirit is the very spirit of the liberal democratic constitution and a precious asset that we must inherit."

The Democratic Party is pressuring the presidential office and ruling party to show action rather than words. In a post on Facebook, Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, said, "As President Yoon said, 'The May spirit is the very spirit of the constitution,' he must fulfill the pledge to enshrine the May 18 spirit in the preamble of the constitution," adding, "Since it is a pledge of both ruling and opposition parties, there is no reason to hesitate. Let's definitely achieve the 'one-point constitutional amendment for the May 18 spirit' in line with next year's general election."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is leading the singing of "March for the Beloved" at the 43rd anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising held on the 18th at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The presidential office responded sharply to the Democratic Party's demand, calling it "an insult to the May 18 spirit." A presidential office official told the media, "This one-point constitutional amendment proposal is nothing but a political trick by corrupt politicians to change the political situation," emphasizing, "President Yoon has consistently stated the principle and conviction that the May 18 spirit is the constitutional spirit even before starting his political career."

Regarding constitutional amendment, the official added, "Since it fundamentally changes the normative order, national consensus and procedures are important in themselves," and "At the opportunity to amend the constitution through a legitimate process, the May 18 spirit will definitely be reflected in the constitution."

However, the Democratic Party continued its offensive, saying that the presidential office only expressed a theoretical position and showed no will to fulfill the pledge. The Democratic Party's Gwangju Metropolitan City branch stated in a press release that "Unlike the campaign promise during the presidential candidacy, the May spirit was not even mentioned for constitutional preamble inclusion last year and this year," questioning, "Is it a commemorative speech if it only mourns in words and commemorates in words?"

They continued, "Although the commemorative speech stated that we must stand up and fight against all forces and challenges threatening freedom and democracy, it did not mention even a single word about breaking ties with anti-democratic historical distortion forces," criticizing it as "the worst commemorative speech ever." The mentioned 'anti-democratic historical distortion forces' appear to target remarks related to May 18 by Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, and controversies surrounding Jeon Gwang-hoon, a far-right figure and pastor of Sarang Jeil Church.

It is analyzed that the Democratic Party's attack on the presidential office and ruling party by raising the issue of enshrining the May 18 spirit in the constitution is intended to overcome adverse situations such as the coin controversy triggered by former member Kim Nam-guk's defection. In particular, there was controversy over 'breaking a campaign promise' when President Yoon exercised his veto power on the Nursing Act amendment recently, and it seems there is also an intention to highlight the image of breaking a campaign promise regarding the enshrinement of the May 18 spirit in the constitution.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, said, "Enshrining the May 18 spirit in the preamble of the constitution is also the president's pledge and our party's position," adding, "We will faithfully carry out that intention." While there is no disagreement on the need to fulfill the enshrinement of the May 18 spirit in the constitution, his remarks can be interpreted as emphasizing the importance of procedures and timing, similar to the presidential office.

On the surface, both ruling and opposition parties agree on enshrining the May 18 spirit in the constitution, and with the general election scheduled for April next year, it is expected to remain a political issue going forward.