Supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who gathered again in front of the Seoul Western District Court on the 19th, have been reported to be heading to the Constitutional Court, prompting the court to go on emergency standby.
On that day, the Constitutional Court sent a text message to internal staff about the "emergency situation warning." The message stated, "Protesters who burst into the Western District Court are gathering at the court. Essential personnel should immediately report to the court to respond to the situation." Other staff members were instructed to stay home and be ready to receive phone calls.
Supporters of President Yoon caused a disturbance early that day after an arrest warrant was issued for him, breaching police barriers to invade the courthouse and damaging property. In the process, 46 people were arrested on the spot. Order was largely restored in the Western District Court area around 7 a.m., and the protesters dispersed.
The protesters began gathering in front of the Western District Court around 1 p.m. By around 3 p.m., their numbers had swelled to 1,500 (according to unofficial police estimates), and they are currently marching toward the Constitutional Court via the sidewalk. They are chanting "Invalid impeachment" while holding signs saying "Release the President" and "Verify the election fraud."
Around 900 supporters of President Yoon (based on unofficial police estimates) occupied the intersection in front of the Constitutional Court's north-side Jaedong Elementary School and are protesting. They are shouting slogans such as "Verify the election fraud" and "Illegal police." Some are holding signs that read "Oppose impeachment, arrest Lee Jae-myung."
Unlike the previous day at the Western District Court, no violent actions have been reported. One participant at the rally took the microphone and said, "The President said to do it peacefully. It's a long battle. Let's save our strength and go in." The protesters are chanting "Peaceful protest" and "Release the President."
The police erected barricades to prevent the protesters from approaching the Constitutional Court. Traffic on the four-lane roads from Bukchon-ro Anguk Station to the front of Jaedong Elementary School has been completely controlled due to the protest. According to the police, the protesters did not notify them in advance that they would hold a rally here or march from the Western District Court to the Constitutional Court.
Around 3:30 p.m. that day, a man crossed over the wall of the Constitutional Court and entered the premises before being arrested by the police. The police plan to investigate why this man scaled the wall. It has not been confirmed whether the individual who intruded into the Constitutional Court is a supporter of President Yoon.