Key facts
- The National Assembly celebrated the 78th anniversary of South Korea's Constitution on July 17, 2026.
- The ceremony marked the first since Constitution Day was redesignated as a public holiday.
- National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik advocated for a constitutional amendment to better protect citizens.
- Former Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik was awarded the Mugunghwa Order of Civil Merit for his actions during the 2024 martial law attempt.
- Woo Won-shik is credited with stalling military troop movements and adhering to parliamentary procedures to lift martial law.
The National Assembly in Seoul held a ceremony on Friday, July 17, 2026, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of South Korea's Constitution, proclaimed in 1948. This event was notable as it was the first since the government reinstated Constitution Day as a public holiday after an 18-year hiatus.
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik used the occasion to call for a constitutional amendment, stating that the current framework is insufficient to address modern human rights issues and social conflicts. He urged the creation of a 'constitution for all' that respects every citizen's dignity.
A significant part of the ceremony involved awarding the Mugunghwa Order of Civil Merit to former Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. This honor recognized Woo's crucial role during and after the failed martial law declaration by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol on the night of December 3, 2024. Woo reportedly led efforts to impede military troop movements into the Assembly compound and ensured parliamentary procedures were followed to lift martial law, subsequently working to stabilize the political situation.
Attendees at the ceremony included hundreds of senior government officials, foreign diplomats, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan, and Prime Minister Han Seong-sook.