President Yoon Suk-yeol has called for an official government review of constitutional amendments to include the principles of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble of the constitution. During a cabinet meeting, he expressed support for a proposal by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, who suggested that amendments should be pursued gradually, starting with those topics that have consensus from the public and opposition parties. Yoon emphasized that the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the constitution has been a long-discussed topic among opposing parties and that the public would likely support such initiatives.

In his comments, President Yoon highlighted the importance of also considering the Busan Uprising in the constitutional amendments, arguing that this event holds significant historical value. He mentioned that including both the May 18 movement and the Busan Uprising together in the amendment process would enhance fairness and reduce potential controversies surrounding the topic. This stance has the potential to garner broader support from the public and opposition parties as these events are significant milestones in South Korea’s democratic history.

The push for constitutional amendments comes amidst challenges in assembling a special parliamentary committee for this purpose, as recent attempts faced resistance from the main opposition party. The urgency for action is underscored by upcoming local elections, which could coincide with a national referendum on proposed amendments. While the ruling party can propose amendments, the lack of bipartisan support creates considerable political hurdles that could impede the process; hence, the timeline for actualizing these amendments remains uncertain.