The Democratic Party of Korea urged the People Power Party to take part in the vote on the constitutional amendment bill. It particularly said that opposing the amendment makes one an "illegal martial law apologist," and criticized the People Power Party for making "Yoon again nominations" in local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 7th, "If the People Power Party shirks its historical and timely responsibility for constitutional amendment, it will face an irrevocable judgment from the public."
He went on, "The amendment bill drafted jointly by the Democratic Party and the five other opposition parties specifies the spirit of the Buma Democratic Uprising and May 18 in the preamble of the Constitution, strengthens the National Assembly's control over martial law, and stipulates the state's duty to promote balanced national development," adding, "A majority of the public supports it, but only the People Power Party is opposed."
Han also said, "The People Power Party criticizes the amendment as being for election purposes. I want it to clearly state which provisions are for elections," adding, "While mentioning a presidential consecutive term system and a two-term system, it even brings up permanent dictatorship. Wasn't it Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of insurrection, who dreamed of dictatorship?"
He added, "As President Lee Jae-myung pointed out, to the public, those who oppose the amendment will look like illegal martial law apologists," and said, "In reality, the People Power Party is obsessed only with 'Yoon again nominations,' far from offering a genuine apology for insurrection and far-right agitation."
The National Assembly will convene a plenary session this afternoon to vote on the amendment bill. The bill passes if at least two-thirds of the incumbent lawmakers (286) — 191 votes — support it. In addition to the Democratic Party and the five other opposition parties that drafted the bill, 12 People Power Party lawmakers must vote in favor.
The People Power Party labeled the amendment bill as election-oriented and set "opposition to the amendment bill" as the party line. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik sought out People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok the day before to ask for cooperation on the bill, but Jang said, "While pushing the anti-constitutional, unconstitutional bill, the 'special counsel to dismiss the indictment,' to erase President Lee Jae-myung's crimes, it is not appropriate to discuss constitutional amendment."