South Korea saw political unrest this week, with one moment capturing national and international attention: a woman confronting armed soldiers outside the National Assembly. Ahn Gwi-ryeong, a 35-year-old former TV anchor and spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party, was filmed gripping the barrel of a soldier’s rifle as lawmakers clashed with security forces blocking their access to the building. Her defiant act quickly went viral, showing resistance to the imposition of martial law.
The confrontation unfolded hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unexpected televised declaration of martial law, which sent shockwaves through the nation. Despite the military’s presence, 190 lawmakers unanimously rejected the order, forcing the president to retract the controversial move. Ahn later described her actions as a desperate effort to safeguard democracy, stating that she felt like the “last line” of defense against military intervention.
Ahn Gwi-ryeong’s act of defiance unfolded late Tuesday night, shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law across South Korea, an unprecedented move in the modern era. As soldiers began surrounding the National Assembly, Ahn rushed to the scene, joining lawmakers and their aides in blocking military forces from entering the building. “My only thought was that I just needed to stop them,” she told reporters. As the confrontation escalated, Ahn was filmed grappling with an armed soldier, grabbing his rifle and shouting at him to “let go.” The footage quickly went viral, symbolizing resistance to the president’s drastic move.
For Ahn, the moment was driven by a sense of urgency and panic, a reaction shared by many, especially the younger generation unfamiliar with martial law, which was last declared in 1979. “I felt like I was witnessing the regression of history,” she recalled. The chaos intensified as soldiers clashed with protesters and lawmakers who had locked doors and barricaded entrances to prevent troops from interrupting the vote to annul martial law. Despite her fear, Ahn’s determination to stop the soldiers from advancing grew stronger. “I felt like I was the last line standing in their way,” she said.
The standoff continued for hours, with 190 lawmakers eventually gathering in the assembly hall and unanimously voting to reject the martial law decree. By 1 a.m., the vote succeeded, and President Yoon was forced to retract his decision just a few hours later.
Ahn and her colleagues managed to halt the military’s advance, ensuring that the assembly could proceed with the vote. Ahn, who had never held a weapon before, described the physical confrontation as intimidating, but the urgency of the situation drove her to act. “I was scared, but I thought, ‘I can’t stay silent,'” she said.
Ahn’s actions were not solely her own; she was part of a collective resistance. Lawmakers and their aides barricaded doors, formed human chains, and used fire extinguishers against the troops. The scene quickly symbolized public rejection of martial law and a defiant stand for democracy.
Ahn’s challenge to the armed soldiers resonated with many, who saw it as an expression of South Korea’s hard-won freedoms. “Even if they were following orders, armed soldiers pointing guns at citizens in the National Assembly is undeniably illegal,” Ahn remarked, emphasizing the unconstitutionality of military interference in legislative affairs.
Despite the widespread attention her actions received, Ahn remained humble, insisting that she was not particularly brave. “There were many people braver than me who stood up to the martial law troops,” she noted, acknowledging the broader movement against authoritarianism.
However, Ahn’s actions highlighted a growing concern over the state of democracy in South Korea. Having witnessed the country’s transformation into a vibrant democracy over the past few decades, Ahn expressed fear that the nation’s political gains were now at risk. “I am concerned that democracy is crumbling and regressing,” she said, reflecting on the tumultuous events of the night.
During an emotional conversation with the BBC, Ahn Gwi-ryeong, wearing the same black turtleneck and leather jacket from the previous night’s confrontation, expressed her deep frustration over the events.
“It’s heartbreaking and frustrating that this is happening in 21st-century Korea,” she said, reflecting on the unsettling reappearance of martial law in the country. Ahn’s comments were part of a broader wave of discontent within the opposition, with many lawmakers vowing to hold the government accountable.
The Democratic Party has already planned a vote this weekend to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, with Ahn claiming that the public has already psychologically removed him from office. “Who could trust a president declaring martial law like a child playing games?” she asked, highlighting the erosion of confidence in Yoon’s leadership.
In response to the threat of martial law being reinstated, lawmakers have been sleeping in shifts inside the National Assembly, determined to protect their constitutional right to vote against it.
Kang Sun-woo, a member of the Democratic Party, stated that if Yoon were to reissue the declaration, the party would act quickly to annul it through a vote. “The freedom of the people can be stopped,” Kang warned, emphasizing the high stakes of maintaining South Korea’s democratic integrity. As the opposition continues to rally against the government, the country remains on edge, grappling with the implications of martial law in a modern democracy.
