A constitutional amendment bill brought to the National Assembly's plenary session on Tuesday failed to pass due to a lack of quorum. The Assembly will convene another plenary session on Wednesday to hold a revote on the amendment.
Immediately after the vote at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Speaker Woo Won-shik declared the vote invalid, stating, "A count of the nameplates showed a total of 178, falling short of the two-thirds of sitting lawmakers required for a quorum."
People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers opposed the amendment and refused to attend the plenary session that day. In a statement issued in the name of all its lawmakers, the PPP said, "We strongly declare that we will resolutely block, together with the people, this reckless and slapdash constitutional amendment drive," adding, "We officially propose that the ruling and opposition parties form a special committee on constitutional amendment in the latter half of the 22nd National Assembly to discuss a comprehensive amendment covering everything from the preamble to the restructuring of the power system."
Speaker Woo responded, "It is truly unfortunate and regrettable," saying, "I apologize to the people that the first constitutional amendment in 39 years failed even to reach a national referendum, with the vote in the National Assembly ending in failure to establish quorum."
He added, "After suffering great pain and confusion from the Dec. 3 martial law, the point is to amend the Constitution so that such an incident can never happen again," pointing out, "That is the historic duty given to the National Assembly, but the vote did not take place."
He further urged, "If another incident like the Dec. 3 martial law occurs without establishing constitutional safeguards, all 22nd National Assembly lawmakers will become sinners in history," adding, "I will reconvene the plenary session at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. You must participate in the vote tomorrow."
