Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), spoke on Monday about his stance on constitutional revision. While he agrees that the Constitution needs updating, he stressed that addressing social unrest should take priority. He pointed to the ongoing turmoil stemming from former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law attempt.
Lee made his comments following a proposal by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik. Woo suggested holding a national referendum on constitutional revision on the same day as the upcoming presidential election. This election must be held within 60 days after the Constitutional Court ousted Yoon last Friday.
While Lee acknowledges the necessity of a constitutional amendment, he emphasized that resolving the insurrection must come first. “Constitutional revision is necessary, but ending the insurrection must come first,” Lee stated, effectively rejecting Woo’s referendum proposal.
In addition to impeachment, Yoon faces criminal trials for insurrection charges related to his short-lived martial law declaration on December 3. Lee raised concerns about the legality of holding a referendum alongside the election. He pointed out that early voting is not permitted for referendums under current law. He said he would support the constitutional amendment, provided that the National Referendum Act is revised to make such a change possible.
“I can conditionally support the constitutional amendment if it includes the spirit of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju,” Lee explained. He also emphasized the importance of tightening martial law declaration requirements.
Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, remains a leading contender for the presidency. The government is expected to confirm June 3 as the official election date during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
