Police enhance security and block access ahead of Yoon's impeachment ruling

With the Constitutional Court likely to announce its ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial next week, police have enhanced their security posture. Barriers made from police buses have been set up, and barbed wire has been installed in places where such barriers cannot be placed. This is a precautionary measure to prevent incidents like the riot at the Seoul Western District Court.

Around 10 a.m. on the 14th, police blocked the sidewalk in front of the main entrance of the Constitutional Court in Jae-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, to prevent citizens from passing. Only Constitutional Court employees, reporters, and verified individuals are allowed to pass after checking their identification. Police plan to restrict access in front of the main entrance from today until the ruling date.

Additionally, police have installed extra barriers in front of the Constitutional Court's main entrance. Currently, press conferences and individual protests are ongoing in this area. This appears to be a measure to prevent participants in press conferences or individual protests from posing a threat to the Constitutional Court. Access to the crosswalk in front of the main entrance has also been blocked.

On the left side of the wall on the southern side of the Constitutional Court, a 6-meter-high barbed wire typically used by military units to protect facilities from enemy attacks has been installed. This area borders civilian buildings. Since it is not possible to completely surround the Constitutional Court with police buses, it serves to prevent protestors from crossing the wall. As of 10 a.m. on that day, there were 36 police buses and 7 barriers installed around the Constitutional Court.

Meanwhile, protests opposing the impeachment of President Yoon are ongoing near the Constitutional Court. At 11 a.m. on that day, about 20 people gathered on the sidewalk across from the main entrance, shouting 'Reject the impeachment' and 'Conduct the trial properly.' Posters reading 'Legislative dictatorship' and 'Martial law is enlightenment' were attached to street trees. Stickers containing QR codes linking to the YouTube channel of well-known instructor Jeon Han-gil were placed on the sidewalk in front of the main entrance.

The 'Presidential National Defense Legal Advisers' group, supporting President Yoon, is holding a relay press conference in front of the Constitutional Court starting at 11 a.m., while the Liberty Unification Party and Mothers' Army will hold a rally at Exit 5 of Anguk Station starting at 1 p.m. At the same location, the Republic of Korea Restoration Movement Headquarters (DAEGUKBON) is also conducting a protest in support of President Yoon.

The 'Yoon Suk-yeol Immediate Resignation and Social Reform Emergency Action (Emergency Action)' group, which calls for the impeachment of President Yoon, plans to continue their sit-in demanding his removal near Exit 1 of Gyeongbokgung Station. At 7 p.m., the Emergency Action group will hold a rally calling for President Yoon's removal near the East Crossroads of Gyeongbokgung, while the Candlelight Action group will hold a rally at Yeolongsonghyeon Green Park.

The government has stated its policy to respond sternly if illegal acts occur on the day of the impeachment ruling. Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok noted at the security ministers' meeting that 'we will hold accountable, with zero tolerance, any acts challenging public authority such as facility destruction, arson, or assaulting police officers.'

The Korean National Police Agency will be on emergency duty from the day before the ruling and will deploy 100% of its available police force on the day of the ruling. If group riots and assaults on police officers occur, they plan to respond with immediate arrests. Jongno District and Junggu District in Seoul will be designated as 'special crime prevention enhancement areas,' divided into 8 regions to strengthen public safety.