Seoul, 18 July 2022 (TDI): South Korea celebrated its Constitution Day on Sunday 17th July. President Yoon Suk-Yeol gave remarks on the celebratory occasion.
President Yoon showed his commitment to promoting the constitutional values of the Republic of Korea. He aimed to further uplift the values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law as South Korea commemorates Constitution Day.
President Yoon Suk-Yeol said; “The constitutional values of free democracy, human rights, and rule of law are the foundation of national unity, and the process of realizing such values leads to the road for prosperity and development,”
The South Korean President also mentioned that he will safeguard the spirit of the Korean Constitution with the great people.
On the occasion, he recalled his visit a year ago to the southwestern city of Gwangju to look back at the spirit of the pro-democracy uprising in 1980. Moreover, he also mentioned how people fought with their blood to defend constitutional values.
In the month of May, President Yoon with about 100 lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party also went to Gwangju. They paid their respects to the victims of the democracy movement.
History of Korean Constitution Day
In the year 1948, South Korea held its first democratic elections for the members of the parliament. The elected members of the parliament then created the national constitution of South Korea.
The constitution of South Korea was ratified on July 12, 1948. Afterward, President Syngman Rhee on July 17, 1948, announced the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.
Therefore, with Syngman Rhee as its first president, the first Republic of Korea was established on August 15, 1948.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) also officially recognized the Republic of Korea (ROK) under Resolution 195 on December 12, 1948.
South Korean Constitution Day on July 17 was first declared as the national holiday in 1949. However, in 2008, the status of Constitution Day was changed from a non-working day to a working day due to restructured laws.
