National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik paid his respects at the May 18 National Cemetery a day before the anniversary of the May 18 pro-democracy movement. Woo stressed the need to include the May 18 spirit in the Constitution's preamble and again expressed his intention to push for a constitutional amendment.
On the 17th, after paying his respects at the May 18 National Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, Woo said, "I have long said that the May 18 spirit will be included in the Constitution's preamble," adding, "We submitted a constitutional amendment that includes the point that martial law was wrong and that such a thing must never happen again."
That day, Woo also wrote in the guestbook, "We will engrave the May 18 spirit in the Constitution. Democracy will surely prevail."
Woo then said, "Aren't the forces opposing a constitutional amendment afraid of democracy?"
Woo went on to say, "Democracy was not made by one person; it has been made by the people," adding, "The work of firmly establishing democracy and the nation's identity within the constitutional spirit will not stop."
Woo also laid out plans to push for a constitutional amendment. "With the revision of the National Referendum Act, many of the procedural issues have been resolved," he said. "Until now, constitutional amendments have been only talk and failed to become the mainstream, but through the revision of the National Referendum Act, the consensus has grown much larger."
He added, "I believe the path to a constitutional amendment is closer than before, as there is discussion not only within the Democratic Party but also within the People Power Party about forming a special committee on constitutional amendment."
After paying his respects at the May 18 National Cemetery, Speaker Woo Won-sik will attend the May 18 eve festival at the special stage by the fountain on May 18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju.