Kim Youngrok: "The Spirit of May 18 Is Also the Root of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City"
Kim Youngrok, governor of Jeollanam-do, is passing a resolution on the 25th at the National Assembly in Seoul with participants including May 18 organizations and civic groups, urging the National Assembly to form a Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment to include the spirit of May 18 in the preamble to the Constitution and to initiate a constitutional amendment. Provided by Jeonnam Province.
On February 25, Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Youngrok attended the "National Convention Urging a Constitutional Amendment to Include the Spirit of May 18 in the Constitution's Preamble," held at the Members' Office Building of the National Assembly, where he expressed a strong commitment to advancing the constitutional succession of the values embodied in the May 18 Democratization Movement.
About 400 people took part in the event, which was organized by the National Promotion Committee for the Constitutional Amendment to Include the Spirit of May 18 in the Constitution's Preamble, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik, leaders from each political party and other political figures, organizations related to May 18, civic groups, and religious communities.
The participants called for the constitutional succession of the spirit of May 18 and urged the creation of a nationwide consensus so that this goal would be reflected in future discussions on constitutional amendment.
Beginning with keynote addresses by the three standing representatives, including Governor Kim Youngrok, the event continued with congratulatory remarks by National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik and five leaders of each political party, a keynote lecture by former lawmaker Lee Buyoung, a reading of the resolution, and a joint performance, all of which helped rally determination to push forward with the constitutional amendment.
In his keynote address, Governor Kim stated, "I find it deeply meaningful that this national convention is being held at the National Assembly to call for the inclusion of the spirit of May 18 in the constitution's preamble, which will firmly establish the identity of the Republic of Korea as a democratic republic."
Governor Kim said, "Even in the face of a crisis of insurrection, democracy was able to prevail because there were citizens who defended the scene with their bare bodies, and because there were people across the nation who fought throughout the cold winter holding light sticks and flags," and emphasized, "Firmly engraving this great spirit of May in the constitution's preamble is what will clarify the identity of our democratic republic and complete K-democracy, which the international community has praised."
He further urged, "We must respond to this call for constitutional amendment with conscience and a sense of responsibility before the souls of May."
Governor Kim added, "The most powerful root that will bind together the 'Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City,' which will be launched this coming July, will also be the spirit of May 18," underscoring the significance of regional integration.
He went on to say, "Just as Jeollanam-do and Gwangju are coming together as one by breaking down administrative boundaries, through this constitutional amendment we must sublimate the spirit of May 18 into a shared value for all of the Republic of Korea," and appealed, "Please stand with us until the end so that the inclusion of the spirit of May in the constitution's preamble is surely achieved."
Jeollanam-do plans to strengthen cooperation with relevant institutions and civil society and to focus its administrative capacity so that the inclusion in the constitution's preamble will be realized in line with the procedures for proposing a constitutional amendment and holding a national referendum.
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