Woo Won-shik renews call for constitutional amendment; ruling party accepts, opposition rejects

[Financial News] Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik met with the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties on the 12th and again urged them to pursue a constitutional amendment to be voted on simultaneously with the June local elections. The Democratic Party of Korea responded that it was willing to begin discussions, while the People Power Party (PPP) drew a line, saying this is a time to focus on people’s livelihoods and that any amendment debate should take place after the local elections.
Presiding over the meeting of floor leaders ahead of a plenary session of the National Assembly that day, Woo said, "It is regrettable that we have not been able to reach a consensus on amending the Constitution so that no one can even dream of declaring illegal Martial Law," and appealed, "I hope you will make a forward-looking decision to open the door to revising the old Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which has been in place for 39 years."
On the 10th, Woo held a press conference and proposed a "one-point constitutional amendment" that would include only the provisions already agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties. He suggested forming the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment by the 17th, drafting a bipartisan amendment bill by April 7, and putting it to a national referendum held together with the local elections. The stated aim is to first establish safeguards against another Martial Law crisis like that involving Yoon Suk Yeol, former president of South Korea, by including provisions that allow the National Assembly to check the President of the Republic of Korea’s authority to declare Martial Law.
Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, responded, "I believe we can fully discuss constitutional provisions to prevent the recurrence of illegal Martial Law so that rebellion never happens again," adding, "It is time to begin serious discussions now."
By contrast, Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "The Middle East war is driving up oil prices and inflation, creating a difficult situation, so I would like us to focus on people’s livelihoods," and dismissed the proposal, warning, "If the major task of constitutional amendment is put on the table, all other debates could be sucked into a constitutional-amendment black hole. If we are to pursue amendment, doing so after the local elections will be sufficient."

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter