world
South Korea Holds First Constitution Day Ceremony in 18 Years
The National Assembly held its first Constitution Day ceremony since the holiday's redesignation, with Speaker Cho Jeong-sik calling for amendments. Former Speaker Woo Won-shik received the Mugunghwa Order of Civil Merit for his 2024 actions.
Jul 17, 1:54 AM·1m read2 sources
YonhapAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
The National Assembly held a ceremony on July 17, 2026, marking the 78th anniversary of South Korea's Constitution proclamation in 1948. Hundreds of senior government officials, foreign diplomats and other guests attended the event in western Seoul, the first since the government restored Constitution Day as a public holiday after 18 years.
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik delivered congratulatory remarks and called for a constitutional amendment.
"The old framework can no longer embrace today's blind spots in human rights or social conflicts in the future," Cho said. " Cho read a message from President Lee Jae Myung. The message accompanied the award of the Mugunghwa Order of Civil Merit to former Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik for his role during and after the failed martial law declaration by then President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3, 2024.
Woo led efforts to block military troops from entering the National Assembly compound that night and followed parliamentary procedures during the vote that lifted martial law. He later worked to stabilize the political situation. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan and Prime Minister Han Seong-sook attended the ceremony.
