‘We had to stop this’: Brave moment woman grabs soldier’s gun in South Korea amid martial law panic
As chaotic scenes erupted in South Korea, one woman’s brave moment of defiance against a soldier has gone viral online.
One woman has gone viral after she was filmed grasping a South Korean soldier’s gun as chaos erupted outside the nation’s parliament following the president’s surpise martial law declaration.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation and triggered widespread protests when he imposed martial law for the first time in over 40 years in a late-night emergency TV address on Tuesday — a move that was swiftly overturned by politicians in a dramatic six-hour period.
Under the declaration, parliamentary activity was banned and medical staff were ordered to return to work in 48 hours, while soldiers descended on the National Assembly to block politicians from entering.
Amid the tense scenes, Ahn Gwi-ryeong, 35, a spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party, was filmed grabbing a soldier’s rifle with her bare hands in an incredible moment of defiance.
“Let it go” she screamed in the now viral footage. “Aren’t you ashamed?”
After a brief tussle, the soldier stepped backwards and started at Ahn before moving away with the weapon.
Speaking to the BBC about the moment, Ahn admitted: “I didn’t think … I just knew we had to stop this.”
Shortly after Yoon declared martial law, the leader of the opposition called on lawmakers to meet at the National Assembly and hold a vote to annul the declaration.
“When I saw the armed soldiers … I felt like I was witnessing the regression of history,” she said of arriving at the parliament.
The 35-year-old admitted she was “scared at first” when the military began advancing.
“But seeing such confrontation, I thought, ‘I can’t stay silent’.”
“It’s heartbreaking and frustrating that this is happening in 21st century Korea.”
190 lawmakers managed to defy armed soldiers to force their way into the building.
Once inside, members of the main opposition Democratic Party were seen setting up barricades at of the building’s entrances.
One National Assembly staffer was pictured spraying fire extinguishers to block soldiers entering the main hall.
The parliament voted to block martial law at about 1am on Wednesday, with all 190 members present in favour.
Just over four hours later, Yoon sensationally backflipped on the decision, announcing “there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations”.
Under the constitution, martial law must be lifted when a majority in parliament demands it.
Opposition parties push to impeach the president
Following the stunt, South Korean politicians have now pushed to impeach President Yoon, accusing him of declaring martial law to stop criminal investigations into himself and his family.
On Thursday morning, lawmakers presented the impeachment motion to parliament, stating Yoon “violated the constitution and the law” and accusing him of imposing martial law to evade investigations “into alleged illegal acts involving himself and his family”.
“This is an unforgivable crime – one that cannot, should not, and will not be pardoned,” MP Kim Seung-won said.
Yoon’s action took allies by surprise, with the United States, which has nearly 30,000 troops in the country, saying it had no prior notice and voicing relief at his reversal.
“South Korea’s democracy is robust and resilient, and we’re going to continue to speak out publicly and engage privately with South Korean counterparts to reinforce the importance of that continuing,” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Wednesday.
Under South Korean law, the motion must be voted on between 24 and 72 hours after it is presented to a parliamentary session, according to Yonhap news agency.
Yoon’s prospects look bleak — the opposition holds a large majority in the 300-member legislature and needs only a handful of defections from the president’s People Power Party to secure the two-thirds majority needed to pass the motion.
The main opposition Democratic Party has also filed a complaint of “insurrection” against the president, ministers and top military and police officials – which can carry a penalty of life imprisonment or even death.
In a show of public anger, thousands of protesters converged around Yoon’s office in Seoul late Wednesday after staging a rally in Gwanghwamun Square, demanding his resignation.
Even the leader of Yoon’s own ruling party described the martial law attempt as “tragic”.
But party lawmakers have decided to oppose the motion to impeach Yoon, Yonhap reported.
One lawmaker from the opposition Rebuilding Korea Party said they had not yet decided when a vote on the motion would take place, the agency said.
Chaotic six hours
In his television announcement imposing martial law late Tuesday, Yoon had said martial law was needed to “safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements”.
Yoon did not elaborate on the North’s threats, but the South remains technically at war with nuclear-armed Pyongyang.
The president also labelled the Democratic Party as “anti-state forces”.
More than 280 troops, some flown in by helicopter, arrived at parliament to lock down the site.
But 190 lawmakers defied armed soldiers to force their way into the building to vote against the move.
The constitution says martial law must be lifted when a parliamentary majority demands it, leaving Yoon with little choice but to retract his decision and call off the military in another televised address six hours later.
Senior aides to Yoon offered to resign en masse, as did the defence minister, who said he took “full responsibility for the confusion and concern” around the martial law declaration.
Yoon has yet to publicly reappear.
– With AFP
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