A chaotic night in South Korea produced scenes thought to be part of the nation's history.
One in particular caught the attention of many: a woman confronted by soldiers sent to prevent lawmakers from entering the National Assembly.
Images of Ahn Gwi-ryeong, 35, a spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party, grabbing a soldier's gun during the unrest were widely shared online.
“I didn’t think… I just knew we had to stop this,” she told the BBC Korean service.
Ahn headed toward the assembly building as soldiers descended there, shortly after the president declared martial law across South Korea.
As with many young South Koreans, the word “martial law” was foreign to him. His last statement dates back to 1979.
When Ahn first heard the news, she admitted that “a feeling of panic took over.”
When martial law is declared, political activities such as rallies and demonstrations are banned, strikes and industrial actions are prohibited, and media and publishing activities are controlled by the authorities. Violators may be arrested or detained without a warrant.
Shortly after martial law was declared, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called on lawmakers to convene at the National Assembly and vote to overturn the declaration.
Arriving at the assembly building just after 11 p.m. local time, Ahn remembers turning off the office lights to avoid detection as the helicopters circled overhead.
Ahn Gwi-ryeong was among the crowd who refused to let soldiers block the entrance to the National Assembly.
By the time she reached the main building, the soldiers were engaged in a confrontation with officials, aides and citizens.
She said: “When I saw the armed soldiers… I felt like I was witnessing the regression of history. »
Ahn and his colleagues were desperate to prevent troops from entering the main building, where the vote would take place.
They locked the revolving doors from the inside and piled furniture and other heavy objects in front of the doors.
When the army began to advance, Ahn stepped forward.
“Honestly, I was scared at first,” she said, adding, “But seeing such a confrontation, I said to myself, 'I can't stay silent.'
The assembly adopted the resolution calling for the lifting of martial law around 1 a.m. The 190 members present voted in favor of its repeal.
At 4:26 a.m., President Yoon announced that he was reversing his decision.
After the chaos subsided, Ahn slept for a short time inside the assembly building.
She continues: “I was actually a little afraid to leave the assembly in the morning because there didn't seem to be any taxis running, and after such a storm last night, it was difficult to get back to reality. »
During her chat with the BBC, Ahn wore the same black turtleneck and leather jacket she wore in footage from the night before.
Sometimes she was overcome with emotion.
“It’s heartbreaking and frustrating that this is happening in 21st century Korea,” she said.
