Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the opposition People Power Party on May 8 for its absence during the previous day's constitutional vote, calling it "cowardly."
During a Supreme Council meeting in Songpa, he stated, "It is cowardly to claim that the content of the constitutional amendment is not strongly opposed and to call it rushed. They should just say they oppose it." He added that such behavior raises concerns about the party's constitutionality.
Han Byeong-do, the party's floor leader, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the refusal to participate in the vote was a rejection of the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising and the Busan-Masan Democratic Uprising. He condemned the People Power Party for neglecting its responsibilities as a constitutional body.
He emphasized that for a national referendum on the constitutional amendment to occur during the June 3 local elections, a vote in the National Assembly must be completed by May 10. The Democratic Party plans to hold a re-vote on the constitutional amendment in the afternoon session.
At the meeting, Jung also highlighted support for Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-o and Songpa District mayoral candidate Jo Jae-hee. He noted his earlier visit to the Garak Market in Songpa, where he heard urgent requests for modernization and digitalization, stressing the need for changes befitting the largest agricultural market in South Korea.
He praised Jo as an expert on Songpa, having run for office twice, and expressed confidence that combining Jo's policy capabilities with Jung's administrative experience could restore the glory of the 1988 Seoul Olympics in the district. He stated that their victory would drive the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Jung Won-o proposed forming a special committee for the Gangnam 4 districts (Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa, and Gangdong), asserting that the government and the party must support its effectiveness. He committed to addressing local issues, such as the development of the former Seongdong Detention Center site and the ecological restoration of the Seongnaecheon stream, reflecting the residents' wishes.
In response, Jung Cheong-rae pledged to establish the committee immediately.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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