35 years old Ahn Gwi-ryeong A woman grabbed a soldier’s gun and grappled with it after martial law was declared in Seoul, leading to unprecedented chaos and mayhem on Tuesday. Ahn Gwi-ryong is a spokesman for the opposition Democratic Party, which strongly opposed President Eun Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law and eventually abandoned the declaration.
Ahn Gwi-ryong said that when she grabbed the soldier’s gun, she didn’t think it would go viral. Her only thought at that moment was to stop the soldier as thousands of people took to the streets to protest against martial law troops on Tuesday.
“My only thought was that I needed to stop them. I pushed them away, shook them, and did everything I could,” Ahn Gwi-ryong said.
“There were people much braver than me who stood up to the martial law troops. There were people who even managed to stop the armored vehicles outside. So, I don’t think my actions were special.”
“I think people have already mentally impeached President Eun Suk Yeol. Who can trust a president who declares martial law like a child at play to entrust such leadership to a nation?
In the viral clip, Ahn Gwi-ryeong shouted, “Let go! Aren’t you ashamed?”
Ahn Gwi-ryeong was a reporter/anchor at South Korean broadcaster YTN before joining the Democratic Party. She is a vocal critic of Yeon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee. Ahn Gwi-ryong said she was scared when martial law soldiers took over the streets but felt it was not her moment to be silent.
Many social media posts praised her bravery, with one in particular claiming that she is a descendant of Ahn Jun-jun who assassinated Ito Hirobumi in 1909. “Democratic Party spokeswoman bravely marshalls fully armed martial law forces. And Ahn Jung-geun descends from Harbin assassinated Ito Hirobumi in 1909. Defending country against tyranny is her family business,” the post said.