Proposal at the 76th Constitution Day Ceremony
Official Suggestion to Form a National Assembly Constitutional Amendment Special Committee for Yeoyeon
Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik proposed on the 17th to "promote constitutional amendment with the goal of holding a national referendum on the constitutional amendment during the 2026 local elections." Speaker Woo also expressed his ambition to promote a social grand compromise body by meeting with companies and labor unions to establish a platform for social dialogue.
On the same day, Speaker Woo officially proposed starting discussions on constitutional amendment during the 76th Constitution Day celebration held at the National Assembly.
He stated, "The political situation is increasingly diverging from the people's expectations, with livelihoods and future agendas evaporating amid the whirlpool of factional conflicts, the space for economy and diplomacy shrinking due to great power rivalry, rapidly changing science and technology, and sometimes overwhelming anxiety and confusion that make the future unclear. The living environment of the people is not good enough to withstand these challenges," adding, "We must resolve old issues and create a framework to respond to the new era to overcome this crisis."
Speaker Woo, who said "constitutional amendment breathes life into the constitution," urged ruling and opposition parties, saying, "Let us promote the constitutional amendment with the goal of holding a national referendum on the constitutional amendment during the 2026 local elections," and proposed, "First, let us form a 'Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment'." While leaving open the scope of the amendment and the timing of its application, he also suggested a methodology to promote the amendment before the local elections.
In this regard, he also proposed constitutional amendment talks to President Yoon Suk-yeol. Speaker Woo said, "If the president and the head of the legislature meet directly and exchange broad opinions, the feasibility of constitutional amendment will greatly increase," and added, "I look forward to a progressive and productive dialogue."
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 National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Additionally, Speaker Woo said, "In addition to long-standing issues such as structural low growth, deepening polarization and inequality, and fragile labor and social safety nets, new challenges such as population aging, response to a shrinking society, carbon neutrality, and digital transformation are flooding in," and emphasized, "There is no other way but a social grand compromise based on the spirit of solidarity and inclusion between classes and generations, resolved through a comprehensive agreement within the broad framework of economic and social policies." He stated, "My ambition as Speaker of the National Assembly is to create a social grand compromise body at the National Assembly level to discuss what to concede and what to gain, and to develop it into a grand compromise in which all sectors of society become stakeholders."
Speaker Woo mentioned the legislative support capabilities of the National Assembly, saying, "We can take the lead in laying the foundation for a 'social grand compromise, package deal,'" and added, "We will fulfill the National Assembly's responsibility to understand and mediate conflicts over socioeconomic policies that have a huge impact on the lives of the people."
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