President Lee Jae-myung on the 6th, ahead of the National Assembly vote on the constitutional amendment bill, said, "Those who oppose it are advocates of illegal martial law." The amendment bill, which will be brought to the floor on the 7th, was introduced on the 3rd by 187 lawmakers, including the Democratic Party of Korea, Rebuilding Korea Party, The Progressive Party, Reform Party, Basic Income Party, The Social Democratic Party of Korea, and six independents, and includes measures to tighten the requirements for declaring martial law.
That morning at the Blue House, Lee presided over a Cabinet meeting and said, "A vote will be held tomorrow on a constitutional amendment bill that there is no reason to oppose. This is an opportunity created after a long time, and I hope the things that all politicians have spoken with one voice about, which all the people agree with, are put into practice tomorrow."
Lee said, "Since the 1987 Constitution was enacted, Korea has undergone truly major changes in many areas, including politics, the economy, and society, but the Constitution has stood still," adding, "With the current Constitution, it is difficult to fully ensure the level of democracy in Korea, the lives of the people, and the country's future." Lee then said, "If the aim is to prevent illegal martial law from ever happening again, what citizen would oppose that? Shouldn't we view those who oppose it as advocates of illegal martial law?"
Lee also said, "It is only natural to prevent a declaration of martial law, not even in a martial law situation, for the illegal purpose of maintaining power, for private gain, to ruin the country through the military and to rule as a dictatorship," adding, "Who would oppose writing reasonable controls over emergency martial law into the Constitution?" Lee continued, "Who would oppose putting the spirit of May 18 in the preamble to the Constitution?" and said, "Strengthening local autonomy is something all the people agree on." The comments appear to pressure lawmakers of the opposition People Power Party to cast yes votes when the bill comes to a vote.
The amendment bill would ▲ state the democratic ideals of the May 18 Democratization Movement and the Buma Democratic Uprising in the preamble to the Constitution, and ▲ tighten the conditions for a presidential declaration of emergency martial law. It requires the approval of two-thirds (191) of all sitting lawmakers to pass. Independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who left the Democratic Party, is currently in custody and cannot vote. Therefore, at least 12 members of the People Power Party must vote in favor. The People Power Party opposes it as a "hasty, election-driven amendment" under the party line.