National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik (center) poses for a photo with Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do (left) and People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok ahead of their meeting at the speaker’s office on May 7. [Photo=Yonhap]
Rival parties traded sharp words May 7 over a constitutional amendment bill set to be brought to the National Assembly floor. The Democratic Party urged the People Power Party to take part in the vote, while the PPP said it would oppose what it called a rushed, patchwork revision.
At a meeting at the National Assembly ahead of the plenary session, Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do said the bill would add references to the Bu-Ma Democratic Protests and the spirit of the May 18 movement to the Constitution’s preamble. He said it would also strengthen parliamentary control over emergency martial law and include the state’s duty to pursue balanced national development.
Han rejected criticism that the proposal was aimed at elections, saying balanced development could not be dismissed as an election tactic. He called for lawmakers to look beyond immediate political advantage and consider the country’s long-term future, arguing the Constitution should be updated gradually as circumstances change.
PPP floor leader Song Eon-seok said he believes constitutional revision is necessary, but compared the current approach to altering only a few parts of ill-fitting clothing. He said a proper revision should redesign the entire document, including the preamble, main text and supplementary provisions.
Song said he would fully support talks on issues such as human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence and how to protect citizens’ rights and human rights. But he said he would firmly oppose a revision discussed to match election timing and limited to selected provisions.
The Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session May 7 to handle the amendment bill and 115 bills related to people’s livelihoods. The PPP plans to skip the amendment vote and enter the chamber when the livelihood bills are taken up.
At a meeting at the National Assembly ahead of the plenary session, Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do said the bill would add references to the Bu-Ma Democratic Protests and the spirit of the May 18 movement to the Constitution’s preamble. He said it would also strengthen parliamentary control over emergency martial law and include the state’s duty to pursue balanced national development.
Han rejected criticism that the proposal was aimed at elections, saying balanced development could not be dismissed as an election tactic. He called for lawmakers to look beyond immediate political advantage and consider the country’s long-term future, arguing the Constitution should be updated gradually as circumstances change.
PPP floor leader Song Eon-seok said he believes constitutional revision is necessary, but compared the current approach to altering only a few parts of ill-fitting clothing. He said a proper revision should redesign the entire document, including the preamble, main text and supplementary provisions.
Song said he would fully support talks on issues such as human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence and how to protect citizens’ rights and human rights. But he said he would firmly oppose a revision discussed to match election timing and limited to selected provisions.
The Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session May 7 to handle the amendment bill and 115 bills related to people’s livelihoods. The PPP plans to skip the amendment vote and enter the chamber when the livelihood bills are taken up.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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