Expresses Will for Constitutional Amendment at First Anniversary Press Conference
Forms Consensus on Amendment with President Lee Jaemyung
Pledges to Gather Discussions Inside and Outside the National Assembly
On June 11, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Wonsik stated, "Constitutional amendment is a crucial task for the expansion of democracy," and added, "I will push for the establishment of a special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendment and the necessary legislation for the amendment process."
At a press conference marking his first anniversary in office held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly on this day, Speaker Woo said, "Since the new president has a firm will, I will work to gather discussions both inside and outside the National Assembly, including all political parties," expressing his intentions.
Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is speaking at a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on June 11, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Earlier, on May 18, during his presidential candidacy, President Lee Jaemyung presented his vision for constitutional amendment via social networking service (SNS), focusing on introducing a four-year presidential re-election system and a runoff voting system. Regarding the timing, President Lee stated, "If discussions proceed quickly, we could ask the people’s opinion during the 2026 local elections, and even if delayed, we could do so during the 2028 general elections."
Speaker Woo intends to revive the momentum for constitutional amendment through the special committee and related initiatives. Constitutional amendment has been a key issue in political circles since former President Yoon Sukyeol's 12·3 Martial Law, but it lost momentum as the country entered an early presidential election phase.
On April 6, right after the removal of former President Yoon Sukyeol, Speaker Woo proposed, "Let us hold a national referendum on constitutional amendment together with this 'early presidential election,'" but lost momentum when the Democratic Party expressed opposition. At the time, President Lee, who was the leader of the Democratic Party, said, "While it is important to advance democracy, it is more urgent and important right now to prevent the destruction of democracy." Subsequently, as former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo attempted to nominate a Constitutional Court justice, political tensions escalated, and as a result, discussions on constitutional amendment lost steam.
During the press conference, Speaker Woo also outlined his policy priorities for the coming year. He described the current period as "the second phase of overcoming the crisis, where the National Assembly and the government must cooperate to pool national capabilities," and pledged, "Starting with the urgent supplementary budget, I will fulfill my active role and responsibilities." In addition to constitutional amendment, Speaker Woo promised to strengthen the basic capabilities of the National Assembly and to push for a reorganization of the parliamentary security and guard system. He also announced, "For national identity and unity, we are planning a National Assembly-level Liberation Day eve event and the creation of an Independence Memorial Plaza in front of the National Assembly Library."
Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is speaking at a press conference marking his first anniversary in office held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on June 11, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Over the past year, Speaker Woo has experienced both light and shadow amid an extreme structure of political confrontation. At the beginning of his term, Speaker Woo attempted to mediate between the ruling and opposition parties by preparing a bipartisan compromise on the Broadcasting Act, but his efforts ultimately failed.
On December 3 last year, during the 12·3 Martial Law, Speaker Woo entered the National Assembly by climbing over the wall. Despite the urgency to lift martial law, he calmly followed all necessary procedures and conducted the legislative schedule, earning widespread public praise. During the first and second impeachment attempts against former President Yoon, he also steadfastly presided over plenary sessions, reinforcing his image as a politician strong in times of crisis.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
