[Full Text] Woo Won-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly, Proposes Simultaneous Voting on Constitutional Amendment and Early Presidential Election

Emergency Press Conference on Constitutional Amendment
"Overseas Voting Rights Must Be Revised"
"Urgent Need to Form Constitutional Amendment Special Committee"

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik stated on the 6th regarding constitutional amendment, "I propose to hold a national referendum on the constitutional amendment simultaneously with this presidential election day."

Speaker Woo held an emergency press conference on the constitution at the National Assembly in the afternoon and said, "A constitutional amendment that breathes life into the constitution in response to the times is necessary."

He said, "Through the unconstitutional and illegal martial law and impeachment political turmoil, there is a greater national consensus on the urgency of constitutional amendment than ever before," adding, "Although the national confusion was settled by the Constitutional Court's ruling, the potential for destructive conflict surrounding presidential power still exists."

He continued, "The limitations of the old constitution, which has fallen behind the changes of the times, have long restricted social development and the improvement of the quality of life of the people," explaining, "The demand for political reform to end extreme confrontational politics and the demand for social reform to create a democracy that changes people's lives are being consolidated into constitutional amendment."

He emphasized, "We prevented the martial law incident that almost destroyed all the achievements Korea has built up at once, but fundamental measures are needed to ensure that such an event never happens again," adding, "Martial law is not the fault of the constitution, but we must take this opportunity to supplement the constitution and establish structural barriers."

He further stated, "The core is to make the principles of checks and balances that support democracy operate through the constitution," and argued, "To eliminate the risk of winner-takes-all and move toward popular sovereignty, power must be decentralized, and to achieve national integration, cooperation and collaboration must be effectively institutionalized."

Speaker Woo said, "Currently, the biggest procedural obstacle blocking the national demand for constitutional amendment is the National Referendum Act. The provision on voting rights for overseas Koreans, which was ruled unconstitutional, must be amended," and raised his voice, "Let's immediately form a special committee on constitutional amendment in the National Assembly. Considering the time required for the constitutional amendment process, it is urgent to form the special committee to quickly agree on the first minimal constitutional amendment."

Speaker Woo Won-shik is delivering a national address at the National Assembly on April 4, 2025, following the Constitutional Court's ruling to dismiss former President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The following is the full text of Speaker Woo Won-sik's emergency press conference on constitutional amendment

Dear respected citizens,

This is Woo Won-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly.

Today, I would like to propose to the people

that we now swiftly push forward with constitutional amendment.

Through unconstitutional and illegal martial law and the impeachment political turmoil,

there is a greater national consensus on the urgency of constitutional amendment than ever before.

Although the national confusion was settled by the Constitutional Court's ruling,

the potential for destructive conflict surrounding presidential power still exists.

The limitations of the old constitution, which has fallen behind the changes of the times,

have long restricted social development and the improvement of the quality of life of the people.

The demand for political reform to end extreme confrontational politics,

and the demand for social reform to create a democracy that changes people's lives,

are being consolidated into constitutional amendment.

Constitutional amendment is a timely demand to turn the hardships endured by all citizens during the severe conflicts and confusion of the past four months

into an opportunity for a great transformation of the Republic of Korea.

We prevented the martial law incident that almost destroyed all the achievements Korea has built up at once,

but fundamental measures are needed to ensure that such an event never happens again.

Martial law is not the fault of the constitution,

but we must take this opportunity to supplement the constitution and establish structural barriers.

The core is to make the principles of checks and balances that support democracy

operate through the constitution.

To eliminate the risk of winner-takes-all and move toward popular sovereignty, power must be decentralized,

and to achieve national integration, cooperation and collaboration must be effectively institutionalized.

A constitutional amendment is needed to strengthen the pillars of the separation of powers for popular sovereignty and national integration.

It is also urgent to reflect the changed social landscape and national demands.

It has been 38 years since the 1987 constitutional amendment, and there have been dramatic changes.

Along with democratization, Korea has entered the ranks of advanced countries through remarkable economic growth,

and the people's awareness of sovereignty has also increased.

However, structural crises such as low birthrate, aging population, and polarization have deepened,

and new challenges such as the climate crisis and digital transformation are also confronting us.

Making paths through laws and systems,

especially the constitution, the greatest avenue, has not been timely addressed,

resulting in a separation between reality and the constitution, even pathological phenomena.

A constitutional amendment that breathes life into the constitution in response to the times is necessary.

To achieve constitutional amendment,

we must first solve the reasons why constitutional amendments have repeatedly failed despite the majority of the people agreeing on the necessity.

Since the launch of the Sixth Republic, in every presidential election, six times,

most major candidates pledged constitutional amendment,

but concrete procedures were carried out only once.

In the National Assembly, official discussions on constitutional amendment have been repeated for nearly 20 years since the 18th and 2008,

but it has not been realized.

This is because each political force has different calculations and conflicting interests.

The biggest issue was the restructuring of the power system.

The calculations differ depending on the ruling and opposition parties and the political landscape.

At the beginning of the president's term, there is hesitation fearing constitutional amendment might become a black hole for state affairs,

and in the latter half of the term, the momentum disappears due to lame-duck syndrome.

To avoid this vicious cycle,

the path must be opened before the new president's term begins.

The demand of the times to decentralize power to achieve popular sovereignty and national integration,

and now that the direction of constitutional amendment is clearest,

this is the right time to realize constitutional amendment.

I propose to hold a national referendum on constitutional amendment simultaneously with this presidential election day.

We should do as much as can be agreed upon within the deadline,

but the most difficult power structure reform must be done this time.

Any insufficient content can be pursued as a second constitutional amendment along with next year's local elections.

The people's desire to elect the president with their own hands

led to the rapid realization of the 'direct election constitutional amendment' in 1987.

Now, the people's desire is to change the imperial presidency and winner-takes-all political structure,

which are the causes of extreme political conflicts.

It is no longer enough for the people to directly elect representatives;

from the president to the National Assembly,

those representatives must be made to work properly.

If the National Assembly responsibly responds to this desire,

the 'popular sovereignty and national integration constitutional amendment' can also be realized in 2025.

Two things are necessary for constitutional amendment to succeed.

Political and social consensus to push for constitutional amendment,

and a concrete constitutional amendment proposal that can be agreed upon.

I believe both have been somewhat established.

Voices actively supporting constitutional amendment are rising not only from various sectors of society but also from political parties.

Many discussions have accumulated on the constitutional amendment proposal.

We only need to choose which proposal to proceed with.

As the Speaker of the National Assembly, I have been operating an advisory committee,

and I am prepared to fully support whenever the National Assembly's special committee on constitutional amendment is formed.

The remaining task is to enter the constitutional amendment procedure.

I propose to all political parties in the National Assembly to amend the 'National Referendum Act' for constitutional amendment voting

and to form the 'National Assembly Constitutional Amendment Special Committee.'

Currently, the biggest procedural obstacle blocking the national demand for constitutional amendment

is the National Referendum Act.

The provision on voting rights for overseas Koreans, which was ruled unconstitutional, must be amended.

Since 1989, it has been almost stagnant, and there are many inconsistencies with the Public Official Election Act, which has steadily reflected demands for suffrage such as early voting and lowering the voting age.

It is urgent to amend the National Referendum Act to resolve suffrage infringements

and to establish the legal basis for simultaneous voting with public elections.

Although the time is tight, a bill has already been proposed.

If there is the will to definitely amend the constitution this time,

the deadline can be met.

I ask each political party to expedite the discussion.

Secondly, let us immediately form the National Assembly's special committee on constitutional amendment.

Considering the time required for the constitutional amendment procedure,

it is urgent to form the special committee to quickly agree on the first minimal constitutional amendment proposal.

There is a clear national demand for the broad direction,

and there are sufficient proposals from various sectors,

so I, as the Speaker of the National Assembly, will do my best to support the rapid derivation of the constitutional amendment proposal.

There is a saying, "Nothing can be achieved without people, but nothing can be sustained without systems."

Korea has overcome crises every time with the people's capabilities.

Now, we must reduce political and social conflicts through institutional devices that create politics of dialogue and compromise and a government that can unite the people,

and pour national capabilities into a new leap forward.

That is why now is the time for constitutional amendment.

At a time when the world is paying attention to the resilience of Korea's democracy,

let us once again demonstrate Korea's democratic capabilities through a successful constitutional amendment. Thank you.