Citizen blocking armored vehicle during martial law likened to 'Tank Man'

DPK leader Lee Jae-myung asks, 'Please find this citizen'

By KTimes

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, sought to identify a citizen who stood in front of an armored vehicle during President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law.

Lee shared a YouTube video on his X account on Sunday with the hashtag "Bright Future of Korea." The footage, originally captured by The Washington Post, shows a moment during the early hours of Dec. 4, when a citizen stood on a crosswalk in Yeouido, Seoul, blocking an armored vehicle en route to the National Assembly.

In the video, a man wearing a black jacket is seen standing on a crosswalk, blocking a moving military vehicle. When the vehicle attempted to proceed despite the obstruction, the citizen threw himself forward, grabbing the front of the vehicle with his bare hands.

When the vehicle attempted to advance despite his protest, nearby citizens rushed forward, grabbing the front of the truck. Others joined in, ultimately bringing the vehicle to a stop.

The Post described the footage as "protesters blocking military vehicles headed toward the National Assembly." It also reported that a protester at the scene shouted, "Over my dead body!"

The comments section of the video shared by Lee was filled with admiration, with users expressing gratitude and respect for the citizen's bravery. "It’s heart-wrenching. Their courage has touched countless people," one commenter wrote. Lee also praised the act, "Please, find this person," and applauded his bravery.

The citizen's actions have drawn comparisons to the "Tank Man" of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. On June 5, 1989, a lone man stood in front of tanks entering Tiananmen Square, creating one of the most iconic images of the protests. The moment, captured by AP, became a symbol of resistance and the man in the photo was later recognized by Time magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century."

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