Parliament Access Blockade 'On the Brink'...Minjoo Party Urges "Members to Bring ID and Gather at Parliament and Party Headquarters"

On the 3rd, as President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, the Democratic Party of Korea requested party members, including aides, to bring their identification cards and gather at the National Assembly or the Yeouido Central Party Office.

At around 11:50 PM that day, the Democratic Party sent a text message to its members stating, "The Yoon Suk-yeol government has declared martial law, paralyzing the constitutional order. Currently, access to the National Assembly is blocked, causing an unprecedented situation. We ask all party members to bring their ID cards and gather at the National Assembly or the Yeouido Central Party Office."

They added, "This is an instruction from the Secretary-General. Effective immediately, all department heads and essential staff members of each department are ordered to be on emergency call. All other employees should closely monitor the situation."

Earlier, President Yoon announced an emergency statement at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, saying, "We declare martial law to eradicate pro-North anti-state forces at once and to protect the free constitutional order."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appealed to the public through a social media video, saying, "Please come quickly to the National Assembly. Protect the National Assembly, the last bastion of democracy."

Police officers are blocking the National Assembly entrance after President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law on the 3rd. (Photo by Oh Ji-eun)

Lee said, "Soon, tanks, armored vehicles, and soldiers armed with guns and knives will dominate this country. Please stand together to protect the collapsing democracy."

He also addressed the military, saying, "The guns and knives you hold all come from the power of the people," and added, "The owner of this country is the people, and the true master to whom the soldiers must obey is not President Yoon but the people."

Lee stated, "The people did not permit President Yoon's martial law. What you must obey is not President Yoon's orders but the orders of the people."

Police officers are blocking the National Assembly entrance after President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law on the 3rd. (Photo by Gong Byung-seon)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.