Woo Won-shik: "If the People Power Party lifts its party line, the constitutional amendment bill will pass"

[The Financial News] Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, said on the 24th that the constitutional amendment bill would clear the parliamentary hurdle if the People Power Party dropped its opposition party line and allowed lawmakers to vote freely.
Woo and other parties, including the Democratic Party, excluding the People Power Party, had previously proposed a constitutional amendment bill containing only noncontroversial items, such as revising the preamble and strengthening the National Assembly's checks on emergency martial law. The plan is to pass it at the full Senate session on May 7 and hold a referendum alongside the local elections in June, but the People Power Party is opposing it as a party line.
Speaking on SBS Radio that day, Woo said, "Why is the People Power Party blocking it as a party line? Lawmakers should be allowed to vote according to their conscience and convictions." He added, "I have met several People Power Party lawmakers, and many of them said they have no disagreement with the amendment bill but feel burdened because of the party line. If the party line is lifted, the amendment bill can pass the National Assembly."
He also pointed to the People Power Party's recent weak approval ratings and said, "Didn't they say the local elections will be extremely difficult as well? That is not unrelated to Yoon Suk Yeol's illegal emergency martial law and the insurrection situation." Emphasizing the bill's provision to strengthen checks on emergency martial law, he said it would be "a constitutional amendment that allows the People Power Party to draw a complete line from insurrection."
Asked about the People Power Party's claim that if a phased constitutional revision begins with the local elections, President Lee Jae-myung could seek a second consecutive term, Woo replied, "That is impossible. Article 128 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea says that any amendment related to presidential terms does not apply to the incumbent president." He added, "They are already opposing even this amendment bill, which has no disagreements. Is there any way to amend that clause?"
The People Power Party is maintaining its party line against the constitutional amendment and is also considering skipping the May 7 full Senate session altogether, when the bill is expected to be introduced. To pass the National Assembly, the amendment bill needs support from two-thirds of all lawmakers, meaning constitutional revision is only possible if the People Power Party joins in.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter