National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said the spirit of the May 18 movement left South Korea with a historic lesson that “no power can defeat the people,” and urged the People Power Party to join a parliamentary vote on a constitutional amendment reflecting that spirit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Woo visited the May 18 National Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, on April 21 and reiterated that the May 18 spirit should be included in the preamble to the Constitution.
On the National Assembly’s vote on the amendment, Woo said it was “regrettable” that the People Power Party opposes it as a party line. “They have all promised it, and they have come here and made countless pledges,” he said. “No matter how I think about it, there is absolutely no reason for the People Power Party to oppose it.”
“This is no longer a time for promises, but a time for action,” Woo said, arguing the bill could pass if lawmakers are allowed a free vote.
After laying flowers and burning incense at the cemetery, Woo visited the newly renovated former South Jeolla provincial government building in Dong-gu, Gwangju.
“The restored provincial office is truly meaningful, and the intensity, devastation, resolve and anger of that time are etched into it as they were, leaving my heart heavy,” he said. “I look forward to the day the May 18 spirit is proudly written into the Constitution’s preamble.”
Woo has repeatedly called for constitutional revision to include the May 18 spirit in the preamble and to strengthen National Assembly control over martial law.
Leaders of six parties, excluding the People Power Party, submitted a constitutional amendment bill to the National Assembly on April 3 in the names of 187 lawmakers, including the provision on the May 18 spirit.
Passage requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 295 sitting lawmakers, or 197 votes. That would require support from nine to 10 People Power Party lawmakers.
To hold a national referendum on the amendment on the June 3 local election day, the bill must be approved by the National Assembly by May 10.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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