Gwangju Civic Groups Condemn People Power Party for Obstructing May 18 Constitutional Amendment

Joint Statement by Five Gwangju Civil Society Groups

On the 24th, after the third amendment to the Commercial Act was tabled at the 8th plenary session of the National Assembly's February extraordinary session, Yoon Hanhong of the People Power Party began a filibuster. Yonhap News

Civil society groups in the Gwangju region have strongly condemned the political establishment for delaying the constitutional amendment process to enshrine the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble to the Constitution.

On the 25th, five civil society organizations, including the Gwangju Citizens' Coalition, issued a joint statement saying, "We condemn the People Power Party for obstructing the inclusion of the May 18 spirit, which has contributed to the development of democracy in the Republic of Korea, in the preamble to the Constitution," and urged, "The process of constitutional amendment to enshrine the May 18 spirit and build the Seventh Republic must be accelerated."

These groups stated, "The May 18 Gwangju Uprising was a symbol of civic resistance against authoritarian power and a solid foundation for the development of Korean democracy," and stressed, "Explicitly stating its noble spirit in the preamble to the Constitution is a grave historic declaration that we will prevent democratic backsliding."

They went on to say, "The spirit of community in May 1980 is a representative example that showed the precious values of solidarity, care, and self-governance," and pointed out, "The Democratic Party of Korea should also not postpone discussions on constitutional amendment under the pretext of the opposing party, but instead participate actively."

Earlier, on the 23rd, the amendment to the National Referendum Act for a constitutional referendum passed the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly, but as the People Power Party launched a filibuster (unlimited debate), the plenary vote has been delayed indefinitely.

Finally, the groups declared, "The Republic of Korea now stands at a critical crossroads between retreating into authoritarianism and advancing into an era of citizen sovereignty," and raised their voice, saying, "It is time for the political establishment to properly respond to the earnest demands of citizens that erupted in the Revolution of Light."