“Bizarre Preparations Underway as Impeachment Decision Approaches”
By Ju-min Park
SEOUL (Reuters) – With South Korea’s Constitutional Court soon to decide on the fate of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, unusual measures are being taken to ensure safety. Police presence will be heightened, and one school along with certain subway stations will be closed over security concerns.
Yoon’s political future is uncertain following his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, which led to his impeachment and additional charges of insurrection. The court’s ruling is anticipated this week, prompting both supporters and opponents of Yoon to prepare for potential large-scale demonstrations.
“We are making contingency plans for worst-case scenarios,” stated Lee Ho-young, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency.
Police are authorized to use pepper spray or batons in the event of violence, as seen during a previous incident where Yoon supporters stormed a court building in January. On the day of the ruling, a nearby subway station will be closed, and certain trains may avoid stops at stations expected to host significant rallies, as informed by the Seoul Metro.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has advised six schools near the court to implement safety measures, including potential closure on the ruling day. One school has already decided to remain closed, according to Kim Eun-mi, an official at the education office.
Throughout the court proceedings, police have encircled gatherings of Yoon supporters to maintain order. A police source emphasized the need for heightened security, drawing parallels to the tense situation during the impeachment ruling of former President Park Geun-hye.
Police may also restrict access to gas stations near the court on the day of Yoon’s impeachment ruling. Following Yoon’s return home, thousands of supporters gathered outside his residence to protest the impeachment, prompting increased police presence in the area.
Over the weekend, police strategically stationed buses and set up checkpoints around the residence to control access, as reported by Ju-min Park; edited by Josh Smith and Gerry Doyle.
