Military Units Entering the National Assembly [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Possibility of Elite Personnel from Subangsa Special Task Force and Special Warfare Command
Uncertainty Over Live Ammunition and Armament of Counterterrorism Unit Members

Interest is rising in the martial law troops who entered the National Assembly immediately after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law. Known as a special mission unit, the Democratic Party views their forced entry into the National Assembly as unconstitutional and illegal, and is currently reviewing whether to apply charges of treason.

Yonhap News

Yonhap News

On the 3rd at around 10:25 PM, President Yoon declared martial law through an emergency national address. It is reported that this was prepared in utmost secrecy without even several presidential office aides knowing. Within an hour of the martial law declaration, a Martial Law Command was established to oversee all administrative and judicial affairs in the martial law area, and Army Chief of Staff Park An-su was appointed as the martial law commander. Subsequently, the Martial Law Command, led by General Park, was set up within the Ministry of National Defense premises.

Martial Law Troops Enter National Assembly 40 Minutes After Proclamation

Following this, General Park, the martial law commander, announced through the ‘Martial Law Command Proclamation (No. 1)’ that "all political activities including the activities of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, political organizations, assemblies, and demonstrations are prohibited." Following this announcement, martial law troops began to be deployed to the National Assembly. This occurred around 12:07 AM on the 4th, approximately 40 minutes after the proclamation was issued. The troops entered the National Assembly grounds via military helicopters. From around 12:27 AM on the 4th, they attempted to enter through the main gate of the National Assembly building. In response, the assembly members’ aides and party officials barricaded themselves with office furniture and engaged in physical confrontations. Some armed martial law troops succeeded in breaking the windows of the National Assembly main building and entering around 12:30 AM.

Yonhap News

The martial law troops are known to be members of the 35th Special Mission Battalion under the Capital Defense Command and the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade under the Army Special Warfare Command (Special Forces). The 35th Special Mission Battalion is stationed in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. This unit is dispatched to respond to terrorist situations in Seoul and conducts counterterrorism operations.

Members of the 35th Special Mission Battalion of the Capital Defense Command were also mobilized for martial law duties. The special mission unit based in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, began as the 35th Special Forces Battalion, responsible for initial counterterrorism measures. However, as urban warfare and counterterrorism missions in Seoul increased in importance, it was reorganized into a Special Mission Battalion in 2022 and elevated to a ‘Nationally Designated Counterterrorism Special Mission Unit.’ Although its symbolic name was known as the Lone Spider Unit, it was recently renamed the ‘Taeho Unit.’ The abbreviation used by the Capital Defense Command is ‘Samo Special Mission.’

Possibility of Capital Defense Command Special Mission Unit ‘Taeho Unit’

The Taeho Unit is equipped with K808 wheeled armored vehicles. Powered by a 420-horsepower domestically produced commercial diesel engine, it can reach a top speed of 100 km/h. In the event of emergencies such as terrorism in Seoul, it can be rapidly deployed to the scene. Notably, it can carry nine fully equipped soldiers, enabling swift deployment to operational areas. For firepower, it is equipped with either a K4 high-speed grenade machine gun (40mm) or a K6 machine gun (12.7mm) to support troops engaged in operations.

The 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade under the Army Special Warfare Command is stationed in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. This unit has a history of participating as rebel forces during the December 12, 1979 military coup. Alongside this, the 35th Special Mission Battalion of the Capital Defense Command was also deployed. This special mission unit, specialized in counterterrorism, is stationed in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, and is an elite force dispatched during peacetime terrorist situations.

Martial Law Troops Armed with Rifles; Live Ammunition Cannot Be Ruled Out

At around midnight on the 4th, martial law troops appeared over the National Assembly by helicopter and forcibly entered by breaking the windows of the main building. They were wearing ballistic helmets, masks, and bulletproof vests, and were armed with rifles. Whether live ammunition was issued remains unconfirmed, but some soldiers were equipped with night vision goggles, indicating they were deployed in a ‘fully armed’ state. The Democratic Party claimed that the martial law troops who entered the National Assembly following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration attempted to arrest National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik and the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties.

After President Yoon lifted martial law about six hours later, the troops deployed under martial law returned to their original units at 4:22 AM. Just before the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s announcement, President Yoon stated in his address, "The troops deployed for martial law duties have been withdrawn," and added, "Martial law will be lifted through a Cabinet meeting." The Martial Law Command established within the military was disbanded along with President Yoon’s address.