South Korea’s capital erupted in chaos as protesters clashed with the army to protest the president’s declaration of martial law Tuesday — forcing a pol to climb over a 5-foot-high barrier to enter parliament to vote and lawmaker aides using fire extinguishers to beat back soldiers.
Dramatic images and video from outside the National Assembly building in Seoul capture thousands of demonstrators gathering outside the parliament site to condemn President Yoon Suk Yeol’s extraordinary order and battling troops.
At one point, some armed and helmeted military members try to enter the building as political foes of Yoon prepare to vote inside to rescind the martial law — with parliament members’ aides employing fire extinguishers to beat them back.
Footage from a local outlet shows an entire armed unit of South Korean soldiers breaking through a window and hoisting each other up to try to enter the National Assembly.
Representative Lee Seong Yoon of South Korea’s main opposition party told the BBC that he was forced to climb over a nearly 5-foot-tall barrier to get into the building to vote against Yoon’s martial law declaration.
The president’s draconian order for martial law — which temporarily substitutes the nation’s democratic government to one of military rule to be used in times of war, civil unrest or natural disaster — was eventually declared “invalid” by a majority of lawmakers, although it remained unclear whether Yoon would abide by the vote, which he is required to do by law.
Lee was among the 190 lawmakers who rushed to the capital to oppose Yoon, who accused his political foes of taking the government process hostage over issues such as the budget, throwing the country into a crisis with their antics and sympathizing with North Korea.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean Communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” Yoon said in a televised order.
The message was received with widespread condemnation, with thousands chanting, “No to martial law!” “Strike down dictatorship!” and “Open the gate!” outside the parliament building.
The protesters called out Yoon directly as they demanded lawmakers impeach the increasingly unpopular president, who won the top post in 2022 by a razor-thin margin, only to see his administration plagued by scandals.
“We are not here to fight you, we are here to fight Yoon!” several protesters yelled at police guarding the National Assembly.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik ordered police and military personnel to withdraw from the Assembly grounds following the vote against marital law.
“The people should … rest easy, the National Assembly will defend democracy with the people,” Woo said.
With Post wires
