South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law late on Dec. 3, prompting the deployment of police and military forces to the National Assembly, where tensions ran high as lawmakers, staff, and journalists clashed with authorities blocking access.
Police buses cordoned off the Assembly’s entrances, and officers with riot shields denied entry to Assembly staff, reporters, and even lawmakers. The scene quickly descended into chaos, with shouting and physical altercations among staff, journalists, and independent YouTubers. Military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, moved toward the Assembly, and helicopters hovered overhead.
Political parties issued urgent calls for lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly following the announcement. However, police temporarily prevented them from entering, leading to confrontations. Lawmakers demanded to know why they were being blocked, with some shouting, “Why are you stopping us from entering? We are lawmakers!” Police eventually allowed them in after 11 p.m.
In dramatic scenes, some lawmakers and party staff climbed the National Assembly’s outer walls to enter. Democratic Party lawmakers Lim Mi-ae and Kim Young-hwan, as well as the party’s leader Lee Jae-myung, entered the premises by climbing the walls, with Lee broadcasting the ordeal live on his personal YouTube channel.
Under mounting pressure and protests from lawmakers and Assembly staff, police relented, permitting Assembly personnel and journalists to enter after 11:20 p.m. However, the abrupt martial law declaration left even authorities appearing unprepared. Officers seemed flustered as they initially blocked access to lawmakers and others.
The announcement also sent shockwaves through government agencies, with senior officials scrambling to understand its implications. Several expressed confusion and surprise, with one high-ranking official commenting, “I was at a dinner when I saw the news and couldn’t believe it.” Another reportedly asked journalists for insights into the reasons behind the declaration.
Key ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, convened emergency meetings at government complexes in Seoul and Sejong. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a high-level meeting of department heads at 11:43 p.m., while the Ministry of Education reportedly discussed how martial law might affect school operations.
The military issued an emergency mobilization order to all forces around 11 p.m. A Ministry of National Defense official said Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had recommended the declaration of martial law.
By this time, military helicopters had begun circling above the National Assembly, and armored vehicles moved into the area. Armed troops attempted to enter the Assembly’s main building but were met with resistance from staff and party members, leading to scuffles. Fire extinguishers were deployed by some Assembly personnel to fend off the soldiers, who broke windows in an attempt to gain access. Although they failed to enter the main hall, armed soldiers patrolled the building and its grounds.
Opposition lawmakers gathered inside the Assembly in growing numbers, while the ruling People Power Party faced a different scenario. Party leader Han Dong-hoon and about ten lawmakers entered the main hall, but internal dissent was apparent. Representative Kim Sang-wook accused floor leader Choo Kyung-ho of sowing confusion by hindering lawmakers’ access to the Assembly.
Inside the Assembly, lawmakers pressed for a swift vote to annul the martial law declaration. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urged calm, stating, “Let us follow proper procedures as we draft the resolution.” After intense deliberations, a resolution to lift martial law was introduced and put to a vote.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Dec. 4, Speaker Woo announced the results: “Out of 190 members present, 190 voted in favor of the resolution to lift martial law.” The decision was reached 150 minutes after President Yoon’s declaration.
