'Martial Law Lift Resolution' Handshake Between Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jae-myung in National Assembly Plenary Session

Handshake and Conversation in the Main Assembly Hall
National Assembly Passes Martial Law Lift Resolution, Martial Law Troops Withdraw

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, joined hands to block the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol.

On the morning of the 4th, Representative Han shook hands with Representative Lee in the National Assembly plenary session hall where the vote on the resolution to lift martial law was taking place, and after having a conversation, they watched the vote together.

Yonhap News

Earlier, around 10:20 p.m. that day, President Yoon held an emergency special address to the nation at the Yongsan Presidential Office, stating, "The Democratic Party's legislative dictatorship does not hesitate even to impeach the budget," and declared, "I proclaim emergency martial law to eradicate pro-North anti-state forces at once and to protect the free constitutional order."

In response, Representative Han immediately issued a press release saying, "The president's declaration of emergency martial law is wrong," and "We will stop it together with the people," then entered the National Assembly plenary session hall via the Yeouido party headquarters around 11:50 p.m. Representative Lee also criticized it as an "illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-people martial law declaration" through a live video on his way back to the National Assembly.

Shortly after Representative Han entered the plenary session hall, the martial law troops attempted to enter the National Assembly plenary session hall through the passage used by the People Power Party officials, including the party leader's office. When the troops trying to enter through the main gate of the National Assembly were blocked by the aides' resistance, they tried to enter through the windows. It was confirmed that tear gas or fire extinguishing powder had been discharged near the first-floor entrance door of the main building where the troops attempted to enter.

On the 4th, about 20 martial law troops attempted to break the glass windows and enter the main building of the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Subsequently, at 1 a.m. on the 4th, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the resolution to lift martial law with all 190 members present voting in favor. Article 77, Paragraph 5 of the Constitution stipulates that when the National Assembly requests the lifting of martial law with the approval of the majority of the total members, the president must lift it. Approval from 150 members is sufficient.

After the National Assembly passed the resolution to lift martial law, the martial law troops withdrew by dividing into military buses and military helicopters.

After the plenary session, Representative Han met with reporters in the Rotunda Hall and said, "The exercise of public authority by the military and police based on this martial law is illegal," and "With the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law, the declaration of martial law has effectively lost its effect." He added, "The ruling party, People Power Party, will protect public officials to the end if they refuse to follow illegal orders."