On the 23rd of this month, the amendment procedure for the National Referendum Act, essential for enabling constitutional reform votes, progressed rapidly in South Korea's National Assembly. Within just a day of its introduction to the Administrative Safety Committee, the proposal was swiftly processed and moved to the Legislative and Judiciary Committee, enhancing the likelihood of a vote during the current extraordinary session, which concludes on March 3rd. This expedited process highlights the urgency surrounding this legislative matter.

The Legislative and Judiciary Committee presented the amendment aimed at securing voting rights for overseas citizens, which had been delayed for over 11 years following a Constitutional Court ruling that deemed the existing law unconstitutional for limiting those rights. The Constitutional Court had urged resolution of this issue by 2015; however, legislative inaction resulted in a prolonged gap in addressing these voting rights, reflecting broader implications for democratic practices in the country. The amendment was successfully passed in the Administrative Safety Committee, largely driven by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.

Despite opposition from the People Power Party, the Democratic Party plans to present the amendment during a National Assembly plenary session scheduled for the 24th, aiming for its passage before the current extraordinary session wraps up. While there has not yet been confirmation on whether a vote to include a clause honoring the spirit of the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in the constitution will occur, urgency grows to finalize legislative changes ahead of local elections and the constitutional referendum, which must conclude at least four months before the planned voting date.