The Democratic Party of Korea announced on March 10 that it would "actively participate in discussions" regarding National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik's proposal to hold a constitutional referendum simultaneously with the June 3 local elections.
Kim Hyun-jung, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after a policy meeting that enshrining the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the constitution was "first proposed by President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, and was also a presidential campaign pledge."
"If a special committee on constitutional revision is established in the National Assembly, we support the necessity of a single-issue amendment including the enshrinement of the May 18 spirit," Kim said.
Speaker Woo proposed a minimal "single-issue" constitutional amendment instead of comprehensive revision. His proposal includes strengthening the National Assembly's authority over martial law declarations, enshrining the May 18 spirit in the preamble, and adding provisions for balanced regional development.
Kim criticized the People Power Party's resolution opposing "Yoon Suk-yeol's return to politics" as "a political show for local elections."
"Isn't it impossible for someone who has already been sentenced to life imprisonment as the ringleader of an insurrection to return to politics?" Kim said. "Simply opposing his political return lacks sincerity without clear follow-up actions."
She demanded the ruling party expel Yoon, take action against Jeon Han-gil and Ko Sung-kuk who promoted election fraud claims and "Yoon Again," and revoke the gubernatorial nomination of Yoon Gap-geun, the attorney who defended the former president.
Regarding stalled legislation on administrative integration of Daegu-North Gyeongsang and Daejeon-South Chungcheong provinces, Kim blamed "the incompetence of floor leader Chang Dong-hyuk's leadership."
"We asked the People Power Party to present a unified party position on Daejeon-South Chungcheong integration, but they still haven't provided an answer," she said.
On the government's bills to establish a Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and a Public Prosecution Agency, Kim dismissed possibilities of revision, saying the proposals "were developed through sufficient discussion."
"There is a clear goal to process these bills within March," she added.
Confirmation hearings for Park Hong-geun, nominee for inaugural Planning and Budget Minister, and Hwang Jong-woo, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, are scheduled for March 23. Requests for confirmation hearings for National Election Commission candidates Yoon Kwang-il and Jeon Hyun-jung will be submitted this week.