South Korea Moves Forward With Constitutional Changes, Cabinet Gives Approval

South Korea’s Cabinet on Monday approved a motion to amend certain provisions of the Constitution, paving the way for the National Assembly to consider the proposed changes and, if approved, submit them to a national referendum. The move reflects ongoing efforts to incorporate the nation’s democratic legacy and tighten controls over martial law declarations.

The amendment proposal was jointly introduced last Friday by 187 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party and five minor parties. The bill seeks to incorporate the spirit of past pro-democracy movements, including the 1980 Gwangju uprising and the 1979 Busan-Masan protests, into the Constitution’s preamble. Currently, the Constitution references only the April 19, 1960 revolution that ousted South Korea’s first president, Rhee Syng-man, for election fraud. The main opposition People Power Party has not endorsed the proposal.

Under the approved process, President Lee Jae Myung must publish a public notice of the proposed amendment for at least 20 days, allowing citizens to review its contents. The National Assembly is then required to vote on the bill within 60 days, with passage requiring a two-thirds majority. If approved, a national referendum could be held alongside the June 3 local elections, requiring both majority turnout and majority approval for final ratification.

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The bill also introduces stricter conditions for declaring martial law. It mandates that the president obtain parliamentary approval without delay, and if the National Assembly rejects or fails to act within 48 hours, the martial law declaration would be immediately nullified. The change aims to strengthen legislative oversight over emergency powers.

President Lee emphasized the importance of bipartisan support during a Cabinet meeting, noting that the Constitution has not been revised since 1987 and that societal changes over the past four decades warrant updates. “There is broad consensus on the need to revise the Constitution to better reflect changes in society nearly 40 years after its last revision,” he said, calling for cooperation across political lines.

Lee expressed optimism that key points, such as recognizing pro-democracy movements in the preamble and tightening martial law provisions, could receive cross-party agreement. He indicated that the referendum could be successfully conducted alongside the upcoming local elections, signaling a significant step in South Korea’s constitutional reform efforts.

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