Cheong Wa Dae Expresses Regret Over Collapse of Constitutional Amendment Vote Due to People Power Party Absence, Says It Must Keep Its Promise to the Public

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[The Financial News] Cheong Wa Dae said on the 8th that it "expresses regret" over the collapse of the plenary vote on the constitutional amendment bill because the People Power Party did not participate.
Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson at Cheong Wa Dae, said in a written briefing that day, "We express regret that the plenary vote on the constitutional amendment bill was ultimately derailed by opposition from lawmakers belonging to the People Power Party."
Kang explained that the amendment bill would have included the spirit of the Busan–Masan Uprising and the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble to the Constitution. It would also have spelled out the state's responsibility for balanced regional development and strengthened the National Assembly's authority to check martial law.
She added that there was a public demand to reflect the lessons of the illegal Dec. 3 martial law incident in the Constitution, and that there were no major differences between the ruling and opposition parties.
Kang pointed out that people would likely find it hard to understand why even a minimal constitutional revision aimed at protecting the country's security and democracy was opposed.
She also said, "The constitutional revision discussions promised to the public must never be halted," adding, "We ask the National Assembly to continue those discussions with greater responsibility in the second half of its term and keep its promise to the people."
Kang emphasized that constitutional revision is not simply about changing institutions. She said it should become a new starting point for restoring consensus-based politics, national unity, and social harmony beyond extreme confrontation and partisan conflict.
She added that Cheong Wa Dae will continue to push ahead, together with the public, with constitutional revision discussions that are a task of the times.
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west@fnnews.com Sung Seok-woo Reporter