National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik and five parties with parliamentary seats — the Democratic Party of Korea, Rebuilding Korea Party, Basic Income Party, The Progressive Party, and The Social Democratic Party of Korea — urged the People Power Party to cooperate in handling the constitutional amendment bill. The People Power Party has opposed it as a party line under the slogan of "simultaneous constitutional revision with the June 3 local elections."
Woo and the five floor parties held the third joint meeting of floor leaders at the National Assembly on the 28th and urged the People Power Party to take part.
Woo said, "Supporting the constitutional amendment can move beyond the treason frame and serve as an opportunity to be reborn as a healthy conservative party," adding, "I ask that you ensure members can vote in the plenary chamber according to their conscience and conviction."
Cheon Jun-ho, acting floor leader of the Democratic Party, also said, "People Power Party, do not block the constitutional revision and please join us," adding, "We ask you to show genuine reflection on the treason." Seo Wang-jin, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said, "People Power Party, do not hide any longer behind partisan interests and commit a crime against history."
The constitutional amendment bill introduced on the 3rd of this month by six ruling and opposition parties excluding the People Power Party includes the National Assembly's ex post facto approval power over martial law, the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement and the Busan-Masan Democratic Uprising, and provisions on decentralization and balanced regional development.
Considering those who will resign their parliamentary seats to run for metropolitan mayor or governor by the 30th, the number of sitting lawmakers will drop to 286. The quorum for passage, two-thirds of the sitting members, is 191, making cooperation from the People Power Party essential for approval.
Woo is expected to continue trying to persuade the People Power Party to join the constitutional amendment going forward.
Cho Oh-seop, chief of staff to the National Assembly speaker, said, "(Woo) has already met privately once with Representative Jang Dong-hyeok and plans to meet again this week or before handling the amendment," adding, "In addition to the leadership, he is continuously communicating with People Power Party lawmakers by phone and through individual meetings to seek their consent to the amendment."
The six ruling and opposition parties excluding the People Power Party plan to hold a plenary session on the 7th of next month to put the constitutional amendment to a vote. If two-thirds or more of the sitting lawmakers approve the amendment in the plenary session, it will be put to a national referendum along with the June 3 local elections. The constitutional amendment will be finalized if a majority of eligible voters participate and, among them, a majority vote in favor.