Democrats Visit Gwangju for First 'On-Site Supreme Council' of the Year
Lee Jae-myung "Time to Engrain Gwangju Spirit in the Constitution"
Hong Ik-pyo "Government, Stop Saying One Thing and Doing Another"
The Democratic Party of Korea, two months ahead of the general election, visited Gwangju and raised their voices to start discussions on constitutional amendments to include the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution. While pressuring the government and ruling party on an issue promised by President Yoon Suk-yeol, they are also working to solidify votes in their 'stronghold' region.
On the morning of the 5th, at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, party leader Lee Jae-myung stated, "We are holding the first on-site Supreme Council meeting of this year in Gwangju, the sacred place and heart of the Democratic Party," adding, "I feel a greater sense of responsibility than anyone else for the earnest wishes of the people and Gwangju to stop the government's tyranny and to steady the shaking tree."
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held on the morning of the 5th at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]
In particular, he emphasized, "We can no longer delay engraving the spirit of May Gwangju into the constitutional spirit," and "Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, visited Gwangju last month and expressed support for including the May 18 spirit in the constitutional preamble, which is also a promise made by the president." He continued, "Over the past two years, this administration has only repeatedly spoken about including it in the constitutional preamble without taking any action against those who deny the May 18 spirit," and criticized, "I think the right thing to do is to apologize to the people for this recycled pledge."
Lee said, "The public will not forgive false promises," and warned, "If you think you can deceive Gwangju and the people again this time, you are mistaken." He added, "If you continue to say one thing and do another, it will inevitably be thought that the inclusion of the Gwangju May 18 spirit in the constitutional preamble will be the same," urging, "Don't say you will do it after the election; since the government has the authority, the Democratic Party agrees, and the people sympathize, I hope you will not just promise but implement it immediately."
Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is paying respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, on the morning of the 5th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Floor leader Hong Ik-pyo also supported, saying, "It would be good to start discussions on constitutional amendments to include the May 18 spirit in the constitutional preamble immediately."
He proposed, "We can hold a national referendum during the general election," and urged, "Let's include it in the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea before the cherry blossoms fall." He further stated, "I hope the Yoon Suk-yeol government stops making empty promises that are only words," and "Both the Moonlight High-Speed Railway and the constitutional spirit are promises they made, so it would be good to act together rather than saying one thing and doing another."
Especially targeting the government and ruling party, he said, "Instead of repeating election-oriented tax cuts and handouts without reflection, I hope they immediately stop making impulsive, election-driven, trial-balloon pledges," and reiterated, "If there is sincerity, I hope the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the constitutional preamble will definitely be included and passed together in the April general election."
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