[Reporter’s Notebook] Seeing Fully Armed Soldiers in the National Assembly

At 11:47 PM on the 3rd, the sound of a helicopter was heard over the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul. Those gathered at the scene were alarmed. There was a mixed fear that soldiers might open fire. "The plenary session hasn't started yet! We have to stop them!" people shouted as they moved desks to block soldiers from entering the main building of the National Assembly. In an instant, National Assembly aides stood in front of soldiers carrying guns and wearing helmets equipped with night vision goggles. In front of the National Assembly building, soldiers and aides became entangled in a physical struggle.

Around the same time, Speaker Woo Won-shik was following procedures to present a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law in the plenary session hall. When someone shouted, "The aides are fighting right now!" Speaker Woo firmly stated that the procedure must not be disrupted. At 1 AM on the 4th, Speaker Woo raised the gavel. "I hereby declare that the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law has been passed." Applause erupted in the plenary hall. In the main building, in line with the National Assembly's resolution demanding the lifting of martial law, the martial law soldiers withdrew, and people applauded.

Let’s rewind the time a bit. The National Assembly was in an extreme deadlock. The opposition party processed a budget bill through the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts that only reflected cuts. Moreover, there were impeachment moves against Audit Chief Choi Jae-hae and Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo. Voices called for President Yoon to resolve the conflict related to the National Assembly's deadlock, as he was also a responsible party.

During his 2 years and 7 months in office, President Yoon exercised his veto power 30 times. He even used the veto on a special prosecutor law concerning his wife, Kim Kun-hee. Then he hit a snag. Since the budget bill is not a law, the president cannot exercise veto power over it. This time, voices urged President Yoon to communicate with the opposition party and, if necessary, even plead.

However, the method President Yoon chose was one of terror politics. The special forces arrived at the National Assembly by helicopter, and soldiers split into two groups to attempt entry through the main and rear gates of the National Assembly building. They targeted and broke the glass windows of party leaders’ offices, including that of Representative Lee Jae-myung. It was a crisis on the brink of eruption, a situation where a tragedy of modern history could have been repeated. Those staying in the main building of the National Assembly spent the night wide awake in fear until the lifting of martial law was declared.

President Yoon has heard countless times during his term, "You need to communicate." Yet, this time as well, his response was far from communication. There are even questions about whether the proper legal procedures, such as convening a Cabinet meeting to activate martial law, were properly followed. The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic. If the president makes a choice that betrays the will of the people, it is only right that he takes appropriate responsibility.