Jeonnam Assembly Member Joo Jungsup: "The Spirit of 5·18 Must Be Included in the Constitutional Preamble"

Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Adopts Resolution
Urging Inclusion of the Spirit of 5·18 in the Constitutional Preamble

The Jeonnam Provincial Assembly has adopted a resolution urging that the spirit of the 5·18 Democratization Movement be included in the preamble of the Constitution.

On June 5, during the first plenary session of the 391st regular session, the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly announced that it had passed the 'Resolution Urging the Inclusion of the Spirit of 5·18 in the Constitutional Preamble,' which was proposed by Assembly Member Joo Jungsup (Democratic Party of Korea, Yeosu 6).

Joo Jungsup, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

Joo stated, "The 5·18 Democratization Movement is a national event that has already secured historical and legal legitimacy through the enactment of a special law in 1995, its designation as a national memorial day in 1997, and its registration as a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2011. Nevertheless, distortion and disparagement by certain groups continue, and its spirit has yet to be reflected in the constitutional preamble, meaning it has not fully served as the foundation for democratic constitutional order."

He continued, "All major candidates in the 20th presidential election, including President Lee Jaemyung, have expressed support for including the spirit of 5·18 in the Constitution. In public opinion polls, 7 out of 10 adult citizens have agreed with its inclusion in the preamble. This demonstrates that a strong national consensus exists, transcending political parties."

He added, "5·18 is not merely an event of the past, but a standard that all citizens must uphold in an era where democracy and human rights are under threat. Its spirit must be enshrined in the constitutional preamble so that future generations can live with pride in the values of democracy."

Through the resolution, he strongly called on the government and the National Assembly to swiftly proceed with constitutional amendment discussions and procedural preparations for including the spirit of 5·18 in the preamble, to advance the investigation into the truth of 5·18 and the punishment of those responsible, to improve systems and strengthen education to prevent distortion, and to expand international cooperation for the globalization of the spirit of 5·18.