Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment to Be Formed in the Second Half of This Year
Emphasis on the Need to Make Constitution Day a Public Holiday
President Lee: "We Must Embark on a 'People-Centered Constitutional Amendment' Journey"
On the 17th, Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, stated, "Now our Constitution must take a step forward," and added, "Let us take the first step toward constitutional amendment through a gradual and continuous process, rather than a comprehensive revision."
At the 77th Constitution Day celebration held at the National Assembly that day, Speaker Woo said, "We will review the timing, method, and procedure of constitutional amendment," and added, "We will determine the appropriate timing for a full-fledged amendment after carefully considering various circumstances." Referring to conditions such as the launch of a new government, he said, "I expect that a special committee on constitutional amendment will be formed in the second half of this year," and emphasized, "It is important to make it clear that the constitutional amendment proposal should only include items on which consensus can be reached."
Speaker Woo also mentioned the re-designation of Constitution Day as a public holiday. He noted, "Among the five major national holidays, Constitution Day is the only one that is not a public holiday, even though it commemorates the historic proclamation of the Constitution," and insisted, "We must restore its status to reflect its symbolic significance."
Jung Daecheol, President of the Constitutional Association, also addressed the issue of constitutional amendment in his commemorative speech, saying, "As the new government has entered a period of stability, I believe that the second half of this year to the first half of next year is the optimal time for constitutional revision." He urged both the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly to "promptly form a special committee on constitutional amendment."
Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 76th Constitution Day celebration held at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall on the 17th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
In relation to this, President Lee Jaemyung reaffirmed his commitment to constitutional amendment on social media that day. President Lee stated, "Just as we change our clothes with the changing seasons, it is time to revise and refine our Constitution to reflect the new realities." He continued, "Including the May 18 Democratization Movement in the Constitution's preamble, strengthening citizens' fundamental rights, expanding local autonomy and decentralization, and reforming power institutions?these are the constitutional changes demanded by our era." He added, "I expect the National Assembly, as the representative of the people, to take the lead in the grand journey toward a 'people-centered constitutional amendment,'" and pledged, "As President, I will work to ensure that the will of the people is thoroughly reflected in the constitutional amendment process."
Unlike previous years, this year's ceremony focused less on commemorating the original meaning of the Constitution and more on highlighting the National Assembly's role in overcoming the national crisis of martial law on December 3 last year and defending democracy. Seven lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties participated in reading the Constitution at the event. Prior to the ceremony, the National Assembly held an unveiling ceremony for a symbolic stone commemorating the Assembly's role as a bulwark of democracy and its decision to lift martial law during the crisis. The symbolic stone, inscribed with "The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, the last bastion of democracy," was installed on the lawn in front of the main gate of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the National Professors and Researchers Solidarity Network on the 17th proposed reform measures in nine key areas: politics, unelected power, diplomacy, media, economy, society, labor, climate crisis and energy, and education. Nam Jungwoong, executive representative of the National Professors and Researchers Solidarity Network, stated at the "Proposals for a New Democratic Republic for Democracy, Equality, and Public Interest in 2025" conference held at the National Assembly Library, "With the power of citizens who prevented an insurrection, we must not stop at restoring democracy, but move toward a more equal and public-oriented society."
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