Parliamentary staffers used sofas and fire extinguishers to block soldiers armed with assault rifles and night-vision goggles from entering South Korea's National Assembly to maintain martial law, CCTV footage released on Wednesday showed.
Shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday – the first time it had been imposed in the South in over four decades – helicopters ferried the heavily-armed troops into the compound of South Korea's parliament, the footage showed.
Other soldiers climbed over perimeter fences after midnight, Kim Min-ki, secretary general of the assembly, told reporters at a briefing, adding that they then smashed windows to enter the building in what he called an "unconstitutional and illegal" invasion, reports AFP.
"We will identify the physical damages and losses caused by the declaration of martial law and hold those responsible accountable through legal action," he said.
About 280 soldiers entered the parliament building, he said, but quickly encountered resistance from staffers, who grabbed anything on hand to barricade entrance ways and prevent the troops from reaching lawmakers in the debating chamber.
Footage showed dozens of soldiers attempting to enter the building, only to be pulled away by protesters.
"We are currently assessing the injuries sustained by several individuals, including parliamentary staff, during clashes with the martial law troops," Kim said.
The soldiers "illegally sealed off the National Assembly after declaring martial law, violating the Constitution and the law by barring lawmakers from entering," he said.
"They also trampled on the parliament building using military force, inflicting deep wounds on the hearts of the people," he added.
Struggle over a gun
In one dramatic scene, An Gwi-ryeong, a spokeswoman for the opposition Democratic Party, scuffled with a soldier, attempting to seize his rifle.
The struggle lasted more than 10 seconds. After she released the weapon, the soldier briefly pointed it at her.
Under South Korea's constitution, if parliament requests martial law be lifted, the president is obliged to comply, and experts have speculated the soldiers were sent in a bid to stop the vote from taking place.
The soldiers completed their withdrawal by 2 am, leaving behind shattered windows and broken furniture, but without a single shot fired.
"I was so incensed I couldn't sleep a wink last night, I came out to make sure we push out Yoon once and for all," 50-year-old Kim Min-ho told AFP at a protest at the assembly Wednesday.
"How can something like this happen in the 21st century?" Park Su-hyung, 39, said.
"I'm here out of fear our democracy will be trampled if we keep Yoon in office a moment longer," he added.
Bd-pratidin English/Fariha Nowshin Chinika
