South Korean Justice Minister Calls for New Constitution

South Korean Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon marked the nation's 78th Constitution Day by advocating for a new constitution. He argued that just as new wine needs new wineskins, it is time to prepare a new constitution that fully reflects the changed spirit of the times and the will of the people.

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Just as new wine needs new wineskins, it is time to prepare a new constitution that fully reflects the changed spirit of the times and the will of the people.

Han pointed to the ongoing legal proceedings against instigators of past rebellions and the significant rise in South Korea's democracy index, from 41st place in 2024 to 22nd last year. He attributed this progress to the courage and determination of citizens who defended the constitution against power.

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This was all possible because of the courage and will of the people who defended the constitution against power.

The minister expressed hope that the public and both ruling and opposition parties would collaborate to create a new constitutional order that enriches people's lives, starting with enshrining the spirit of the Busan Democracy Movement and the May 18 Gwangju Uprising in the constitution's preamble. As the head of the Ministry of Justice, he pledged to ensure that the principles of a constitution serving citizens as sovereign and the spirit of democracy are actively practiced in daily life.

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Starting with enshrining the spirit of the Busan Democracy Movement and the May 18 Gwangju Uprising in the constitution's preamble, I hope that the public and both ruling and opposition parties will gather wisdom together to create a new constitutional order that will enrich people's lives.

Han's remarks are seen as a response to the failed attempt at constitutional revision in May. At that time, the then-Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, proposed a constitutional amendment bill that included incorporating the spirit of the Busan Democracy Movement and the May 18 Gwangju Uprising into the preamble and strengthening the conditions for martial law. However, the bill failed to pass due to the boycott by lawmakers from the People Power Party.

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As the ministry in charge of justice administration, we will do our best to ensure that the spirit of a constitution that serves the people as sovereign and the spirit of democracy are alive and breathing in every corner of daily life.