During Yoon's six hours of martial law on December 3, Lee climbed the National Assembly's walls to avoid security cordons deployed on Yoon's orders. He livestreamed his exploit, urging viewers to come to parliament and demonstrate to prevent the arrest of lawmakers.

Lower-ranking soldiers, through acts of disobedience, played a crucial role in stopping an undemocratic power grab. That holds lessons that extend beyond South Korea.

South Korea’s main liberal opposition party has tapped its former leader Lee Jae-myung as presidential candidate in the June 3 vote