Lee calls for constitutional revision to reflect spirit of democratization

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Friday called on the National Assembly to push for a constitutional revision, saying the spirit of the country's democratization movements should be reflected in the Constitution. Lee made the call in a speech at a ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Busan-Masan pro-democracy protests against then President Park Chung-hee's dictatorship, also known as the Buma uprising. "Reflecting the Buma democratization uprising and the Gwangju democratization movement in the preamble to the Constitution is the smallest measure we need to not forget the blood-stained history of defending South Korea's democracy and people's sovereignty," the president said. "On this occasion, I once again request that the National Assembly begin gathering public opinions and holding reasonable discussions on constitutional reform," he said. President Lee Jae Myung (R) pledges his allegiance to the national flag during a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Oct. 15, 2026. (Yonhap) pbr@yna.co.kr(END)