The Worst Constitution Day Marked Without Opening Ceremony... Ruling Party: "Must Resist Parliamentary Dictatorship" Opposition: "Warning of Exercising Right to Resist"

76th Anniversary of Constitutional Amendment Day Ceremony Held at the National Assembly

The 22nd National Assembly marked Constitution Day without even holding an opening ceremony. Instead of promising political recovery or parliamentary democracy, the ruling and opposition parties pointed to each other as forces threatening the constitutional order and solidified their determination for confrontation.

On the 76th Constitution Day on the 17th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over issues such as the Special Prosecutor Act for Chae Sang-byeong and the impeachment petition hearing for President Yoon Seok-yeol, engaging in mutual slander. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a "Democratic Party's Unconstitutional and Illegal Impeachment Agitation Condemnation Rally" at a party meeting, criticizing, "Our people are recklessly shouting and agitating for the impeachment of the president elected through democratic procedures according to the constitution and laws." Choo said, "We will resolutely fight against the Democratic Party's parliamentary dictatorship that reigns above the constitution and commits legislative violence."

Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 76th Constitution Day celebration held at the National Assembly Rotunda on the 17th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Park Chan-dae, acting party leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting regarding Constitution Day, saying, "The ruling party, which should bear unlimited responsibility for state affairs, has been so absorbed in undermining the separation of powers and parliamentary democracy that over the past two years, the president has abused veto power and executive orders." Park warned offensively, "If the administration does not change its attitude, the people should remember that they may exercise their direct right to resist."

The day before, the ruling and opposition parties, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, discussed the agenda for the July extraordinary session, including an opening ceremony to commemorate the new National Assembly term, but found no consensus except for agreeing to hold regular Monday luncheon meetings every week.

Meanwhile, Speaker Woo Won-sik, in a congratulatory speech held at the National Assembly attended by the five key government officials, stated, "With the goal of holding a national referendum during the 2026 local elections, let us keep all possibilities open and proceed with constitutional amendments flexibly, only to the extent agreed upon." He also announced, "We will promote a ‘social grand compromise, package deal’ to understand and mediate conflicts over socioeconomic policies that have a huge impact on the lives of the people.”