Defense ministry officials and police officers will be prohibited from entering the National Assembly as of Wednesday, after the parliament’s secretary-general said some 280 martial law troops illegally entered the premises overnight. 

Kim Min-ki made the declaration Wednesday during a National Assembly briefing, denouncing the troops’ actions as unconstitutional. 

He said the prohibition is an urgent measure to protect lawmakers and ensure the parliament can function.

The secretary-general noted that around 20 minutes after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, the police sealed off the outer gates to the National Assembly and blocked lawmakers and staff from entering.

He added that from 11:48 p.m. Tuesday until 1:18 a.m. Wednesday, the defense ministry deployed about 230 armed martial law troops to the National Assembly via 24 helicopters, with about 50 more troops climbing the parliament’s fence to enter the premises.