South Korean woman who grabbed soldier’s gun explains why she did it

South Korean woman who grabbed soldier’s gun explains why she did it. Published December 5, 2024. Written by Michelle Butterfield. https://globalnews.ca/news/10903320/south-korea-woman-ahn-gwi-ryeong-grabs-soldiers-gun-martial-law/ 

 

    South Korea was declared to be under martial law – only for six hours. When President Yook Suk Yeol publicly declared martial law on the country, citizens took matters into their own hands, protested all the way to parliament, and eventually had the law lifted. This story is about one of the protesters, Ahn Gwi-ryeong (35 and the spokesperson for the opposition Democratic party), who grabbed a soldier’s weapon during the protest. Outside the country’s National Assembly Tuesday night, authorities and citizens protested the declaration, barricaded and stopped the military, and did the most to grant a lift in the law. With the military spread out across the outside of the assembly, a soldier held their rifle that “was pointed at her chest [and] swatted it like a fly.” Ahn’s “only thought was that [she] needed to stop them” as an “act of defiance.” She doesn’t believe that her actions were special or brave because “there were many people braver than [her] who stood up to the martial law troops,” and as she “felt like [she] was the last line standing in their way,” she felt the need to do something to show where she stands. Gwi-ryeong is a role model, fearless and strong. She represents all women, even globally, who aspire to stand up for themselves and for what is right. She represents women who are fed up with power hungry dictators. As for the soldiers, South Korean men are drafted for a mandatory two years in the military, you’d think they’re complete jackasses. What people don’t understand is that it’s mandatory, and the soldier who backed away immediately was merely ordered to be there. My flowers and outmost respect go to the lawmakers who barricaded the military and voted against martial law, and all K-citizens who protested and stopped the military.