A South Korean celebration spokesperson seen grappling with a rifle-wielding soldier in a video that went viral as a logo of defiance in opposition to martial regulation has insisted that she was not particularly courageous.
President Yoon Suk Yeol was pressured to desert his declaration of martial regulation this week after 190 lawmakers defied a contingent of troopers in helmets and physique armour and voted unanimously to reject it.
Footage of the lawmakers’ aides tussling with the troops to stop them getting into the principle corridor has change into a logo of public rejection of the try to impose navy rule.
Images went viral exhibiting Ahn Gwi-ryeong, 35, a former TV anchor who serves as spokesperson for the opposition Democratic celebration, grappling with a soldier and grabbing maintain of his gun. One video was considered greater than 1.2m occasions on YouTube as of Thursday night.
“My solely thought was that I simply wanted to cease them. I pushed them away, shook them off, and did every little thing I may,” she instructed Reuters.
“Lots of people had been combating in opposition to martial regulation troops so I simply thought I additionally needed to cease them.”
As lawmakers had been gathered on Tuesday, their aides blocked entrances with furnishings, fashioned human chains and sprayed troops with hearth extinguishers. Two and a half hours after the president declared martial regulation, 190 lawmakers had made their solution to the parliament and unanimously voted to dam it.
Ahn could be seen shouting on the soldier within the clip: “Let go! Don’t you’re feeling the disgrace?” After she grabs his rifle, the soldier steps again.
Asked if she knew it might achieve that a lot consideration, Ahn mentioned: “There had been many individuals braver than me who stood as much as the martial regulation troops. There had been individuals who even managed to cease armoured autos outdoors. So, I don’t suppose my actions had been significantly particular.”
The commander of the martial regulation troops mentioned on Thursday he had no intention to make use of firearms in opposition to the general public. The nation’s vice defence minister mentioned no dwell ammunition was supplied to the troops.
South Korean opposition lawmakers plan to vote this weekend to question the president.
Ahn mentioned: “I feel that the folks have already psychologically impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Who may belief a president declaring martial regulation nearly like a baby taking part in video games or entrust the nation to such management?”
