South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged for constitutional amendments to formally acknowledge the nation’s significant pro-democracy movements, calling for discussions within the National Assembly. During a ceremony in Busan commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Buma uprising, Lee stressed the importance of recognizing events like the 1979 Buma uprising and the May 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement in the Constitution’s preamble to honor those who fought for democracy and ensure the nation’s democratic legacy is preserved.
Lee paid tribute to the protesters of these movements, highlighting their crucial role in South Korea’s democratic progression despite the threat of violent repression at the time. He acknowledged additional movements, such as the June 1987 Democracy Movement, and more recent protests upholding democratic values. Lee encouraged lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties to engage in public consultations and pursue meaningful constitutional reform, emphasizing that future generations should not need to make extreme sacrifices to defend democracy.
The South Korean Constitution has not been amended since 1987, and Lee has consistently advocated for its revision. His broader reform proposals include altering the presidential term structure from a single five-year term to two consecutive four-year terms. An earlier attempt to amend the Constitution by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was unsuccessful in May, but Lee believes that recognizing the country’s democratic movements could unify efforts for renewed discussions.
The Buma uprising, which began on October 16, 1979, at Pusan National University, marked a pivotal moment in South Korea’s democratic evolution. It led to widespread protests in Masan and surrounding areas, met by government-imposed arrests, martial law in Busan, and military actions against demonstrators. Lee argues that constitutional recognition of such historic events would reinforce the principle of political accountability to the people, preserving the democratic ideals for future generations.