Photo: Kim Dong-hyeon stands in front of an armored car. Credit: the Washington Post.
In 1989, it was a man standing in front of tanks beside Tian’anmen Square. In 2024, it was a man standing in front of an armored car in Seoul. Among the many iconic images of the night of December 3, 2024, when Yoon Suk-yeol 윤석열 attempted a coup, is the picture of a group of men who stood in front of an armored car to block the military from entering the grounds of the National Assembly 국회 to stop lawmakers from voting to lift Yoon’s declaration of martial law. Thanks to their heroism, Yoon’s special forces were unable to enter the building until after commandos in helicopters landed inside the grounds.
Thirty three year-old office worker Kim Dong-hyeon 김동현 was the first one to stand in front of the armored car. When he heard the breaking news of martial law declaration, Kim rushed home to give a week’s worth of food to his two cats, then took a taxi to the National Assembly. At every red light, Kim rolled down the window and shouted: “Yoon Suk-yeol is trying to usurp democracy! He must be stopped tonight! Come to the National Assembly!”
Kim, who served as a driver during his mandatory military service, instantly recognized the armored car from its plate number - 5602 - as belonging to the First Special Forces Brigade. “I knew I couldn’t beat them in a fight,” Kim recalled. “I would probably get arrested and detained somewhere.” Nevertheless, he jumped in front of the vehicle: “I was sure somebody around me would join and help.”
Indeed, several other protesters joined Kim in front of the car. Although the armored vehicle pressed forward in an attempt to scatter them, Kim and other protesters stood their ground until the armored car backed up to find a detour, buying the legislators inside the National Assembly precious time to cast their votes.