Huh Jae Hyun, a journalist from South Korea’s independent media outlet Reporact, revealed that he personally received an apology from a martial law soldier who attempted to enter the National Assembly building following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, which was later lifted.
Huh shared his Facebook account of Wednesday’s events at the National Assembly.
“There was a nameless martial law soldier who bowed deeply and said, ‘I am sorry,’ to the civilians who had gathered at the National Assembly in protest. He was a young man with such a righteous appearance that all my anger melted away when I saw his clear eyes behind his glasses. Instead, I felt endless pity and gratitude,” he wrote.
He continued, “As he bowed repeatedly—once, twice, three times—and said, ‘I am sorry,’ I felt the sincerity in that brief moment. It was as if he were saying, ‘We are on the same side of democracy.'”
Huh added, “I was there as both a citizen and a journalist, receiving your apology. I will remember your words that protected the dawn of our democratic republic for the rest of my life. Please finish your military service in good health and return to society as a healthy young man. Thank you so much.”
The moment was captured in a video by Huh, recorded at the National Assembly. The video, titled “[On-Site] Martial Law Soldier Apologizes to Citizens and Withdraws from the National Assembly,” was uploaded to the YouTube channel “TV Huh Jae Hyun.” In the video, Huh is heard saying, “Use your weapons to protect the people. Do not let the guns you hold destroy our democracy. Please protect us,” as he followed the martial law troops.
A soldier approached him at one point, bowed repeatedly, and apologized before walking away. Huh responded, “No, we are the ones who should be grateful. Thank you for protecting us.”
President Yoon declared martial law at 10:28 p.m. on Tuesday. However, the National Assembly’s resolution to repeal the declaration was passed by 1:03 a.m. on Wednesday, just two hours and 35 minutes later. Legally, martial law remained in effect until 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, when Yoon accepted the National Assembly’s decision through a five-hour and 32-minute Cabinet meeting.
During the martial law declaration, 190 lawmakers attended the session and unanimously voted to pass the repeal resolution, meeting the legal requirement of a majority vote from the National Assembly members.
The 190 lawmakers who attended included 154 from the Democratic Party, 18 from the People Power Party, 12 from the Innovation Party for the Nation, 2 from the Progressive Party, and 1 from the Reform Party, Basic Income Party, Social Democratic Party, and independents.
Among the People Power Party members who attended and voted in favor were lawmakers Kwak Kyu Taek, Kim Sang Wook, Kim Sung Won, Kim Yong Tae, Kim Jae Seop, Kim Hyung Dong, Park Soo Min, Park Jung Ha, Park Jung Hoon, Seo Beom Soo, Shin Sung Beom, Woo Jae Jun, Jang Dong Hyuk, Jung Sung Guk, Jung Yeon Wook, Joo Jin Woo, Cho Kyung Tae, and Han Ji Ah. All of them, except for neutral Kim Yong Tae, were classified as aligned with Yoon’s faction.
Ahn Cheol Soo, the only member from the ruling party present during the vote on the special prosecutor bill, could not attend on time because the National Assembly was under control. He arrived at the main assembly hall by climbing over the wall around 2 a.m. on the 4t2 a.m.ut the vote had already concluded.
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