A constitutional amendment jointly proposed by six ruling and opposition parties under the leadership of the Democratic Party was brought to a plenary session of the National Assembly on Monday, but was scrapped without a vote count after the People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the session, resulting in a "failed vote." The ruling bloc plans to attempt another vote on Tuesday, but the chances of passage appear slim as the PPP maintains its opposition.
The National Assembly convened a plenary session and attempted to vote on the amendment, but the vote failed due to insufficient quorum. "The number of voting lawmakers was 178, falling short of the two-thirds threshold required for passage," National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said. "I hereby declare that the vote on the agenda has not been validly established." To pass the plenary session, a constitutional amendment requires the approval of 191 lawmakers, or two-thirds of the 286 sitting members. Taking into account independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who is currently in custody, at least 12 PPP lawmakers would need to vote in favor for the amendment to pass. All PPP lawmakers were absent from the plenary session that day.
Speaker Woo announced that he would reconvene the plenary session on Tuesday and resubmit the amendment. He also urged the PPP to participate, saying, "If political calculations are brought into constitutional amendment, we cannot open up the future of the country." Presidential Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said, "I convey my disappointment and regret that the vote failed due to the boycott," adding, "Tomorrow, PPP lawmakers must participate in the vote with a sense of responsibility as members of a constitutional body." She also added, "We will consider any measures within the legal and institutional framework to complete the purpose of the constitutional amendment."
The likelihood of the PPP changing its stance appears low. At its general meeting that day, the PPP made its opposition clear, releasing a statement in the name of all its lawmakers that said, "It must not be a 'backroom amendment,' but a 'citizen-participatory amendment' centered on the sovereign people."
Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties passed 115 non-contentious livelihood bills at the plenary session that day. Bills that passed included an amendment to the Defense Industry Technology Protection Act, which imposes prison terms of three years or more and fines of up to 6.5 billion won ($4.7 million) for leaks of defense technology, and an amendment to the Labor Standards Act that allows annual leave to be used in hourly increments.
