Martial Command Orders Presidential Office Reporters to Leave... Staff Members Return (Comprehensive)

Tension Around Yongsan-gu Presidential Office Building

On the night of the 3rd, when martial law was declared, barricades were installed in front of the entrances to the Yongsan Presidential Office and the Ministry of National Defense buildings in Seoul, as vehicles headed toward the building entrances. Photo by Yonhap News

The martial law commander issued an eviction order to reporters at the Presidential Office on the 4th.

The Presidential Office announced that around 12:45 AM that day, the martial law commander had issued an eviction order for the Presidential Office press room.

President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law the previous night. That afternoon, President Yoon delivered an emergency statement at the Yongsan Presidential Office, stating, "I hereby declare martial law to eradicate pro-North anti-state forces at once and to protect the free constitutional order."

Currently, the Security Office staff are controlling access to the Presidential Office, and confusion is arising on-site due to the eviction order for reporters.

Access for Presidential Office staff is not restricted, and aides are gradually returning to the Presidential Office.

Tense atmosphere surrounds the Yongsan-gu Presidential Office building. Security personnel have significantly increased compared to usual, and access control around the building has been greatly strengthened. Immediately after the martial law declaration, many citizens gathered near the Yongsan War Memorial to protest.