First Anniversary of December 3 Martial Law Lifted... Busy National Assembly Hosts 'Dark Tour,' 'Photo Exhibition,' and 'Academic Conference'

Speaker Woo Wonshik: "Democracy of Light, Unfading Memories"

On December 3, under the leadership of National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik, the National Assembly organized a commemorative event marking the first anniversary of the lifting of the December 3 Emergency Martial Law. The event, held under the theme "Democracy of Light, Unfading Memories," took place at the central lawn and throughout the Assembly grounds.

On the afternoon of December 6 last year, shortly after the emergency martial law on December 3, the lights were brightly lit at the National Assembly building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

In a statement released that morning, Speaker Woo said, "On the night when the National Assembly was violated under martial law, it was our people who dispelled the darkness and illuminated the dawn of democracy." He continued, "We will forever engrave the democracy of light, protected by the people, as an unfading memory." Speaker Woo also stated, "I will remember the courage of my fellow lawmakers who rushed to the plenary chamber, risking danger to fulfill their constitutional duties, as well as the staff and aides who fought with all their might to defend the National Assembly-the bastion of democracy-over their own safety, and the party officials who stood with us."

From this day through December 5, the National Assembly is holding a three-day "dark tourism" event. The program includes guided tours of significant sites such as: the main gate of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, where citizens gathered to defend the Assembly during the December 3 Emergency Martial Law; the Assembly's athletic field, where martial law troops landed helicopters; the wall where the Speaker climbed over; and the second-floor lobby of the Assembly building, where staff and aides confronted the martial law troops most fiercely. On the first day, Speaker Woo will personally serve as a guide.

At the central lawn of the National Assembly, photographs capturing key moments from the declaration to the lifting of martial law on December 3 are on display. In the morning, the National Assembly Secretariat, the National Assembly Research Service, the Korean Public Law Association, and the Korean Political Science Association will jointly host an academic conference on "Democracy, the National Assembly, and the Constitution." At 4 p.m., a stone inscription unveiling ceremony will be held at the main entrance (Jeonghyeon-gwan) on the second floor of the Assembly building to reaffirm the commitment to defending democracy. At 7 p.m., the "December 3 National Uprising and Social Reform Citizens’ March" will take place in front of the National Assembly. This event is co-hosted by the Emergency Action Commemorative Committee for National Uprising and Social Reform, which includes the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, the Social Democratic Party, and various civic organizations. After the rally, participants plan to march to the headquarters of the People Power Party.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.