Outrage In Seoul 'How Could A President Act Against The Will Of His People?'

The mood outside South Korea's parliament was a mix of anger and bewilderment on Wednesday afternoon, hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol's shocking, albeit thwarted, declaration of martial law.

- Raphael Rashid in Seoul

The pre-dawn events caught many South Koreans off guard. Those who had slept through it awoke to the news that their democracy had faced its gravest challenge since the 1980s.

Yet, under the clear winter sky, hundreds of defiant citizens gathered on the steps of the national assembly to voice their outrage. Across the capital, other rallies were held demanding Yoon step down.

"I couldn't sleep last night, watching the situation unfold in real-time. My heart was pounding with worry," says Son Jung-hee, who rushed to the national assembly building from Gyeonggi province, an hour's drive from Seoul. She says she felt compelled to come as an "ordinary citizen" to protect parliament, which she sees as the "last line of defence".

In her hand she was clutching a handmade pink placard demanding Yoon's impeachment.

"I feel ashamed. We thought Korean democracy had matured, but something this absurd happened," she says. Gesturing at other citizens who had gathered, she adds: "Look at this precious daily life people are living - how could a president act against the will of his people like this?"

The previous night, the national assembly was surrounded by hundreds of police officers, troops entered the building, and military helicopters circled overhead, creating a scene that felt more like a dramatic film than real life.

For Cho Tae-ik, who is in his 60s, the events of the past half day brought back painful memories.