Gwangju City: "We Welcome Woo Wonsik's Constitutional Amendment Proposal... The May 18 Spirit Must Be Included in the Preamble"

Welcoming Speaker Woo's Proposal for a Concurrent Constitutional Amendment Referendum with Local Elections
"A Chance to Restore Democracy and Establish National Legitimacy"
Kang Gijeong: "The May 18 Spirit Is the Source of Strength That Helped Korea Rise Again in Times of Crisis"

Regarding Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Wonsik's proposal to push for a constitutional amendment, the Gwangju City Government issued a welcoming statement and urged for the inclusion of the May 18 Spirit in the preamble of the Constitution. Gwangju City emphasized that the current constitutional amendment discussions should serve as an opportunity to restore democracy and establish the legitimacy of the nation.

Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is urging the formation of a constitutional amendment special committee by both ruling and opposition parties by the 17th during a press conference related to the constitutional amendment held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 10th, Gwangju City released a statement saying, "Together with 1.4 million citizens of Gwangju, we actively welcome and fully support Speaker Woo’s urgent proposal for 'preventing illegal emergency martial law' and 'gradual constitutional amendment.'"

Earlier on the same day, Speaker Woo proposed at a National Assembly press conference that the ruling and opposition parties form a special committee on constitutional amendment by the 17th, so that a national referendum on the amendment could be held concurrently with the local elections on June 3.

Gwangju City emphasized, "This round of constitutional amendment discussions must restore the democracy wounded by the illegal 12·3 emergency martial law incident and engrave the May 18 Spirit—the root of Korean democracy—into the preamble of the Constitution, thereby establishing the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea."

Furthermore, Gwangju City called on the National Assembly and political parties to: ▲ recognize that the inclusion of the May 18 Spirit in the preamble is a prerequisite and top priority for constitutional amendment; ▲ fulfill the promise to include the May 18 Spirit through simultaneous voting with the local elections; and ▲ immediately convene the special committee on constitutional amendment to begin the substantive procedures for its inclusion.

Gwangju City stated, "Together with 1.4 million citizens, we will continue moving forward, unceasingly, until the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement is enshrined as an everlasting legal value in the Republic of Korea," adding, "We hope that these constitutional amendment discussions will become a historic turning point for further restoring the legitimacy of Korean democracy."

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, said, "The May 18 Spirit has been the vital source that allowed Korean democracy to rise again whenever it faced crises," and expressed hope that "through these constitutional amendment discussions, the May 18 Spirit will be clearly incorporated into the Constitution, clarifying the history and values of Korean democracy."

Kang Gijeong, mayor of Gwangju, attended the "May 18 Spirit Constitutional Preamble Inclusion Amendment Urging National Resolution Rally" held on the 25th of last month at the National Assembly Members' Office Building Large Conference Room, where he was seen conversing with Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly. Photo by Gwangju City

Meanwhile, on the 25th of last month, Gwangju City held the "National Resolution Rally to Urge the Inclusion of the May 18 Spirit in the Preamble of the Constitution Amendment" at the National Assembly Members' Hall auditorium, with participation from nationwide civic organizations, groups related to May 18, and Jeollanam-do. The city continues to work on building broad social consensus for including the May 18 Spirit in the preamble of the Constitution.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.