National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has donated the gavel and gavel block used during the lifting of the December 3 emergency martial law and the impeachment vote against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, making them the first official artifacts in the National Assembly Archives collection.
The donated gavel and gavel block symbolize the historic moments of decision-making during the emergency martial law and the subsequent parliamentary resolution process.
"In the first half of the 22nd National Assembly, we faced an unprecedented crisis with the declaration of emergency martial law and the military's attempted breach of the National Assembly," Speaker Woo said. "However, the National Assembly took the lead in lifting the emergency martial law and swiftly passed impeachment motions against those responsible, thereby protecting the lives of citizens and democracy."
He added: "The gavel and gavel block I am donating today are meaningful artifacts that silently stood guard in the plenary chamber and participated in those historic votes during that grave period."
The National Assembly Archives was established to safeguard and advance democracy through the professional collection, preservation, and management of parliamentary records.
"We will carefully preserve and manage these first donated artifacts and utilize them through various channels, including exhibitions and educational programs, to convey the value of protecting democracy to the public," said Kwak Kun-hong, director of the National Assembly Archives.
Speaker Woo received a certificate of appreciation for the donation.