Constitutional amendment on martial law powers fails in South Korea as opposition boycotts vote

By Son Ji-hyoung, 8 May 2026
Flag of South Korea (photo credit: Kaufdex via pixabay)
Flag of South Korea (photo credit: Kaufdex via pixabay)
The vote on the motion to amend the Constitution was rendered invalid on Thursday after the main opposition People Power Party boycotted the National Assembly's plenary session. With 106 People Power Party lawmakers refusing to attend and only 178 lawmakers present, the vote was invalid. The minimal vote threshold is 191 — at least two-thirds of all 286 South Korean lawmakers. [ . . . ] The drafted motion would give the National Assembly the power to approve or lift martial law. Under the current Constitution, the National Assembly may pass a resolution to invalidate martial law, but only the president has the power to lift it.
Read the full article here: The Korea Herald