Seoul: The ruling Democratic Party's (DP) attempt to advance a constitutional amendment to a national referendum during the impending local elections was thwarted on Friday. This development occurred as the main opposition party, People Power Party (PPP), maintained its boycott of a parliamentary vote on the proposal.

According to Yonhap News Agency, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik decided against putting the amendment bill to a vote shortly after the plenary session began. The decision came after the PPP's warning that it would employ a filibuster to obstruct the proposal. Woo expressed his intent to avoid letting the first constitutional amendment vote in 39 years falter but concluded that further proceedings would be futile in light of the PPP's filibuster threat.

The PPP's absence from the vote on Thursday resulted in the unicameral parliament falling short of the required quorum. The proposed amendment aimed to impose stricter regulations on declaring martial law, necessitating immediate parliamentary approval. Additionally, the bill outlined that any rejection or failure to approve the declaration within 48 hours would nullify the martial law.

Furthermore, the amendment sought to recognize the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju and the 1979 Busan-Masan pro-democracy protests in its preamble, which currently honors the spirit of the April 19 revolution of 1960. This revolution led to the ousting of South Korea's first president, Rhee Syng-man, due to election fraud.

The bill received joint sponsorship from 187 lawmakers representing the DP and five minor parties. For a constitutional amendment to proceed to a national referendum, it requires approval by two-thirds of sitting lawmakers and final affirmation by a majority of voters.

South Korea is scheduled to conduct its quadrennial local elections on June 3.