"Don't You Feel Ashamed?" An Gwiryung Shouts at Martial Law Troops with a Gun... Foreign Media Also Take Notice

Anguiryeong Reports on Confrontation in Front of National Assembly Main Building at the Time
Some Criticize Anguiryeong's Actions as Risky

Foreign media have focused on Democratic Party spokesperson An Gwi-ryeong, who grabbed the muzzle of the martial law troops' guns and shouted, "Aren't you ashamed?" On the 4th, in an interview with BBC Korea, Spokesperson An explained the situation when she confronted the martial law troops after President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law. Earlier, when President Yoon declared martial law on the 3rd, members of the National Assembly gathered at the National Assembly to pass a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law. Among them, a scene was captured where Spokesperson An grabbed the muzzle of the martial law troops' guns and shouted, "Aren't you ashamed?" This happened less than an hour after martial law was declared, when she arrived at the National Assembly.

Military forces in confrontation with Ahn Gwi-ryeong, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea. JTBC News

At around midnight that day, martial law troops armed with firearms attempted to enter the National Assembly grounds and clashed with lawmakers and citizens who came out to protest the declaration of martial law. In the midst of this, there was a scene where the martial law troops appeared to aim their guns at Spokesperson An, and she grabbed the muzzles of the guns. Regarding her feelings at the time, An said, "I didn't think about reasoning or calculating logically; I just thought, 'We have to stop this. If we can't stop this, there is no next time.'"

Facing the martial law troops in front of the main building where the plenary session hall is located, along with party officials, An said, "I think I threw my body forward instinctively to block them. During that process, the soldiers grabbed my arm to stop me, so I also pushed them away. While shaking off their grip and grabbing something, I ended up holding the gun." She continued, "Seeing soldiers armed with guns and knives, as a citizen before being a politician, I felt very sorry and heartbroken witnessing a regression in history. It is a bit sad and frustrating that such things are happening in 21st century South Korea." She eventually showed tears.

CNN also highlighted Spokesperson An in an article titled "A politician who fought with armed soldiers outside the South Korean National Assembly is gaining attention." CNN introduced the story by saying, "After the South Korean president declared martial law, a woman who transformed from a journalist to a politician is widely sharing videos online showing her fighting with armed soldiers, expressing resistance and anger."

Military troops in confrontation with Ahn Gwi-ryeong, spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea. JTBC News

However, some argue that the martial law troops did not aim their guns at Spokesperson An, but rather that she tried to seize their guns. Netizens who watched the video criticized An, saying things like, "Soldiers must always carry their guns. Why try to take the guns away?" and "Fortunately, there were no live rounds, but in principle, the moment a gun is seized, they would open fire." In particular, one netizen pointed out, "This moment was the most dangerous during this martial law," and added, "As a member of the National Assembly, she should fulfill her role and know that she needs to appear on camera, but this could have made the situation much worse."