35-year-old Ahn Gwi-ryeong went viral when martial law was announced in Seoul leading to unprecedented chaos and mayhem Tuesday as the woman grabbed the gun of a soldier and grappled with him. Ahn Gwi-ryeong is the spokesperson of the opposition Democratic Party which vehemently opposed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law making him finally abandon the declaration.
Ahn Gwi-ryeong said when she grabbed the gun of the soldier, she did not think she would go viral. Her only thought at that moment was to stop the soldier as thousands of people Tuesday took to the streets to protest against the martial law troops after it was announced.
“My only thought was that I just needed to stop them. I pushed them away, shook them off, and did everything I could,” Ahn Gwi-ryeong said.
“There were many people braver than me who stood up to the martial law troops. There were people who even managed to stop armoured vehicles outside. So, I don’t think my actions were particularly special.”
“I think that the people have already psychologically impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Who could trust a president declaring martial law almost like a child playing games or entrust the nation to such leadership?”
In the viral clip, Ahn Gwi-ryeong shouted, “Let go! Don’t you feel the shame?”
Ahn Gwi-ryeong was a journalist/anchor on South Korean broadcaster YTN before she joined the Democratic Party. She is a vocal critic of Yonn and First Lady Kim Keon-hee. Ahn Gwi-ryeong said she was scared when martial law soldiers took over the streets but she felt it was not her moment to stay silent.
As many social media posts praised her bravery, one particular claimed that she is a descendant of Ahn Juhn-geun who assassinated Ito Hirobumi in 1909. “The spokesperson of Democratic Party bravely confronting martial law forces fully armed with firearms. She’s Ahn Gwi-ryeong and descended from Ahn Jung-geun who assassinated Ito Hirobumi at Harbin 1909. Protecting the country against tyranny is her family occupation,” the post said.
