South Korea drops constitutional amendment vote on martial law

Constitutional amendment vote on martial law dropped by South Korea

Mohan Sinha
11 May 2026, 04:57 GMT+10

South Korea’s parliamentary speaker, Woo Won-shik, said this week that a bill to change the constitution and make stricter rules on martial law will not go to a full vote.
Six parties, including the ruling Democratic Party, proposed the bill, which would require the president to obtain parliamentary approval before declaring martial law.
The bill also aims to add a reference in the constitution to the Gwangju uprising, when many people were killed during protests against military ruler Chun Doo-hwan in 1980. **

SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's parliamentary speaker, Woo Won-shik, said this week that a bill to change the constitution and make stricter rules on martial law will not go to a full vote.

This is because the opposition People Power Party (PPP) delayed it by speaking for a long time (filibuster).

Six parties, including the ruling Democratic Party, proposed the bill. It would require the president to obtain parliamentary approval before declaring martial law.

This proposal followed former conservative president Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law in late 2024, which sparked major controversy.

According to the draft, if parliament rejects martial law or does not approve it within 48 hours, the president's decision would automatically become invalid.

The bill also aims to add a reference in the constitution to the Gwangju uprising, when many people were killed during protests against military ruler Chun Doo-hwan in 1980.

To change the constitution, at least 191 out of 286 lawmakers must agree. An earlier vote failed because the PPP boycotted the session, leaving insufficient members present.

South Korea's presidential office said it was disappointed that the bill failed due to the PPP's opposition and asked parliament to keep discussing constitutional changes later.