Rumors of Yoon's visit to National Assembly prompted opposition's 'human barricade'

Opposition lawmakers hold placards reading "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol!" in the rotunda of the National Assembly, Friday. Yonhap

Tension gripped the National Assembly as rumors spread about President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden visit on Friday afternoon. Opposition lawmakers, alarmed by the unconfirmed reports, formed a "human barricade" to block his entry, highlighting lingering fears of a potential second martial law declaration.

The rumors, which circulated around 2:30 p.m., suggested that President Yoon would attend a People Power Party meeting at the National Assembly at 3 p.m., following a private meeting with party leader Han Dong-hoon at the presidential residence.

Speculation intensified, with some claiming Yoon would issue an apology or propose a constitutional amendment to shorten his term.

By 2:50 p.m., security at the National Assembly tightened significantly, and vehicle access was restricted. Even those with entry passes were barred from entering, and a notice was sent to the National Assembly day care center to send children home early for safety.

Opposition lawmakers and staff quickly gathered in the main rotunda, suspecting Yoon might take drastic actions ahead of the impeachment vote scheduled for Saturday.

Fears escalated as concerns spread that security forces could seize control of the National Assembly. Opposition lawmakers held placards bearing slogans such as "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol" and "Traitor Yoon, impeach immediately," creating a human barrier to block any entry.

In response to the rising tension, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urged the president to delay any potential visit. “If the president has plans to visit the National Assembly, I ask for those plans to be postponed," he said. "Without prior consultation on the purpose or security arrangements, ensuring his safety would be difficult.”

Woo also planned to issue an emergency statement but canceled and later rescheduled it, keeping a close eye out for further developments.

The presidential office eventually denied the rumors, with an official saying, “The president does not have any plans to visit the National Assembly today.”

Despite this, opposition lawmakers remained skeptical and continued monitoring the situation from the building's entrance.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.