The People Power Party reaffirmed its policy to oppose, as the party line, the constitutional amendment bill expected to be placed on the plenary agenda on the 7th.
Gwak Gyu-taek, the People Power Party's senior deputy floor spokesperson, met with reporters after a closed-door caucus held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "In the closed caucus, we once again confirmed the party line to oppose the constitutional amendment bill to be placed on tomorrow's plenary agenda," and stated accordingly.
Gwak, the senior deputy floor spokesperson, added, "In view of the importance of the constitutional amendment debate, we will finalize and issue a statement in the name of all People Power Party lawmakers on why the amendment is unjust," and "we decided to discuss specific actions again tomorrow."
However, some differing views were raised over the procedure of defining the amendment issue as the party line. Gwak, the senior deputy floor spokesperson, explained, "There was an opinion to hold a bit more debate and set it again as the party line," but "since this was set as the party line about twice before, the conclusion remains unchanged."
Earlier, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun also met with reporters during the caucus and noted, "It is unacceptable for the National Assembly speaker to turn the constitutional amendment bill into an election event without bipartisan agreement or a national consensus," adding, "We also need time to craft our own plan."
Yoon said, "Since 1987, for 39 years, it has been said that a constitutional amendment bill is needed, but cramming it in right before local elections turns it into an election event," adding, "We also should craft our own plan and then, after the election, deliberate again and proceed by bipartisan agreement." He continued, "A hasty amendment must not happen," and emphasized, "A task force should be formed for the amendment bill."