South Korean Parliament hosts ‘dark tour’ to revisit martial law sites on anniversary

SEOUL – More than 200 South Koreans joined a tour of the National Assembly on Dec 3 to view parts of the compound associated with 2024’s martial law crisis, including a sports field where helicopters carrying masked soldiers landed.

The so-called “dark tour” was arranged to mark the first anniversary of the crisis, when then South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol sent shockwaves through the country by declaring martial law, and deploying troops and police to secure the Parliament.

Martial law vote overturned after six tense hours

Protesters poured onto the streets on that freezing night, and lawmakers hopped over walls to dodge security cordons before martial law was overturned by a parliamentary vote after six tense hours marked by moments of bravery, anger and confusion.    

“Why dark tour? Because today was the day when martial law was declared and (the Parliament) was invaded,” said South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who acted as a guide for the participants.

During the tour, Mr Woo showed one of the walls that he, along with other lawmakers, had scaled to reach an emergency gathering inside the Parliament to vote down the martial law order.

Then opposition leader Lee Jae Myung, who was elected president in a snap election in June, also jumped the wall and called for the public to come out for protests, as his live streaming went viral. 

The martial law crisis was one of the worst political ones in a country seen as a democratic success story.

Yoon was eventually impeached and removed from office, and is now on criminal trial for insurrection along with other top administration officials. 

The ousted president has justified his martial law declaration as a “warning” to the opposition, who he accused of making the country ungovernable.

Defence Minister calls invasion ‘grave error’

South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back apologised on Dec 3 for the military’s involvement.

“I offer an official apology on behalf of our military for the grave error of invading the National Assembly and the National Election Commission,” Mr Ahn said in a speech. 

Ms Choi Jin-young, a 51-year-old office worker who joined the tour, said she was doing the dishes when she heard that martial law had been declared and rushed to the parliament complex.

“I threw myself in between people and soldiers. I felt like we were able to stop greedy people,” Ms Choi said.

Another tour participant, Ms Hong Soona, a 28-year-old computer engineering student, had camped outside Parliament until the martial law order was lifted. 

“Even if it was a small part, I feel like my work paid off,” Ms Hong said. REUTERS