In the early hours of a chaotic night in Seoul, a woman’s fearless confrontation with soldiers sent to block lawmakers from entering South Korea’s National Assembly has captured global attention. Ahn Gwi-ryeong, 35, a spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party, became an unlikely symbol of resistance as she grabbed the weapon of a soldier during a tense standoff that most thought belonged to the nation’s past. The event unfolded shortly after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, bringing back a chapter of South Korean history not seen since 1979.
Ahn, who had just returned from a meeting, heard the alarming news of the martial law declaration with a deep sense of shock and panic. For many South Koreans, especially from the younger generation, martial law was a term that seemed far removed from their everyday lives. It was a chilling reminder of a period when the country faced authoritarian rule, censorship, and political repression. For Ahn, the reality of living under martial law was a moment of disbelief.
Under martial law, all political activities including rallies, strikes, and demonstrations are prohibited, media and publishing activities come under strict control, and the government has the power to detain individuals without a warrant. The decree sparked widespread fears, especially from the opposition, and Ahn, along with her colleagues, was determined to fight back.
Just after 11 p.m. local time, Ahn and other opposition lawmakers made their way to the National Assembly, despite the chaos unfolding around them. With helicopters hovering above and soldiers descending on the building, Ahn recalled the tension in the air as she navigated her way into the compound. She said, “I turned off the office lights to avoid detection.” When she arrived at the assembly, a confrontation was already underway.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung had called for lawmakers to gather in the National Assembly to vote against the martial law decree, and the situation was becoming increasingly volatile. Soldiers had locked down the entrance, but Ahn and her colleagues were determined not to let them advance. Ahn was one of the individuals who locked the revolving doors from the inside and began piling furniture and other objects to prevent the military from breaching the building. The soldiers were relentless, and that’s when Ahn made her bold move.
Ahn admits that at first, she felt fear. The sight of armed soldiers advancing toward her was overwhelming. “Honestly, I was scared at first,” she shared in a later interview. But as the standoff escalated, she felt an overwhelming need to act. “I thought, ‘I can’t stay silent.’” In that moment, Ahn stepped forward, grabbing the soldier’s weapon in a symbolic act of defiance. She was confronting the return of martial law with nothing but her courage.
By 1 a.m., the National Assembly had passed a resolution to lift martial law, with all 190 lawmakers present voting in favor of its annulment. At around 4:26 a.m., President Yoon reversed his decision, marking the end of the chaotic night.
When the dust settled, Ahn found herself in a brief moment of calm. She had just spent hours in the assembly building, witnessing history unfold. As the sun began to rise the next day, Ahn was reluctant to leave. “I was actually a little scared to go outside because there didn’t seem to be any taxis running, and after such a storm, it was hard to get back to reality,” she admitted.
Throughout the ordeal, Ahn wore the same black turtleneck and leather jacket she had donned the night before. She recounted the night’s events with a mixture of determination and emotion. “It’s heartbreaking and frustrating that this is happening in 21st-century Korea,” Ahn said. The images of her confrontation with the soldiers, and the courage she displayed, have since gone viral. For many, Ahn has become a symbol of the nation’s enduring commitment to democracy and its rejection of authoritarianism, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
The events of that night in Seoul will surely be remembered as a testament to the resilience of those who refuse to let their country regress into the darker chapters of its past.
