The Night of Martial Law, Lawmakers Who Climbed Over the Wall into the National Assembly

On the night martial law was declared, 190 members of the National Assembly were present in the plenary hall. Despite the National Assembly being sealed off by the police and others, the members entered the National Assembly through 'wall climbing' and other means, and lifted the martial law.

On the 3rd, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik is climbing over a wall to enter the National Assembly during a state of emergency. Photo by the Speaker's Office of the National Assembly

It was revealed belatedly that Woo Won-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly, entered the National Assembly by climbing over the wall during the martial law on the 3rd.

According to National Assembly officials, Speaker Woo escaped from his official residence in Hannam-dong at the time martial law was declared and entered the National Assembly by climbing over the wall, which was weakly guarded by the police and others, accompanied only by his security chief. Afterwards, Speaker Woo avoided the martial law troops and moved within the National Assembly grounds, eventually entering the plenary hall to exercise his presiding rights.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also entered the National Assembly grounds that day by climbing over the wall. The scene of Leader Lee climbing over the wall to enter the National Assembly was watched by 2.38 million people via a YouTube live broadcast.

As President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th to urge the lifting of martial law.

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, also entered the National Assembly by 'climbing over the wall.' Although Ahn was at his party office during the vote, he climbed over the wall to enter the National Assembly, but the vote had already ended. Kim Min-seok, a Democratic Party member who raised the possibility of martial law and attracted significant attention, also attempted wall climbing but was unable to participate in the vote. Kim posted on social media (SNS), "After circling around the blocked National Assembly due to no car, I barely climbed over the wall and arrived at the plenary hall, only to find that the martial law lifting resolution had just concluded," adding, "I was late for the vote, and many people were worried about my safety. Except for a minor mishap while climbing the wall, I am fine."

Female lawmaker Lim Mi-ae of the Democratic Party also entered the National Assembly by climbing over the wall. Lim, who had said on SNS that she would "go to the National Assembly," was filmed climbing over the wall by YouTubers and others. Lim said, "After confirming the declaration of martial law, I entered the National Assembly early, but the police and others blocked us very strongly," adding, "Even though I am a lawmaker, they did not let me in, so I entered the National Assembly by climbing over the wall." Lim also stated, "There should be accountability later for the National Assembly security guards blocking lawmakers from entering."

In the case of Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, controversy arose because he did not climb over the wall. Lee's side said, "Since sitting members of the National Assembly can enter through the main gate on foot, we did not climb over the wall to demonstrate the 'illegality' of blocking this," adding, "After a standoff with the security guards, the Secretary-General of the Speaker's office requested the security guards to 'let the sitting members pass,' and then he was able to enter." However, within the party, there were also criticisms that "he should have entered as soon as possible."