Embed Notice

Another major factor in what ended South Korea's coup so quickly was citizens immediately stepping up to resist.

The Martial Law declaration's primary target was the national assembly. It was rapidly surrounded by the military who were supposed to prevent voting by making quorum impossible. But, between reporters using camera flashes to delay and disorient soldiers; civilians drawing aggro by physically attacking soldiers; and forming human pyramids to sneak lawmakers in past barricades they were able to get enough people in to vote to end the martial law declaration.

The videos of everyday people of all ages doing what they can, risking their lives, to save democracy belong in textbooks. State media may be trying to censor it but that gaggle of reporters making a flash bang out of their camera equipment needs to be part of the lesson from tonight.