Acting Constitutional Court Chief Moon Hyung-bae and Constitutional Court Justice Lee Mi-sun will receive police protection even after their retirement on the 18th.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency acting chief Park Hyun-soo noted at a regular press briefing on the 7th that "if necessary, we plan to provide needed protection (even after the retirement of the Constitutional Court justices)." However, it is known that the police have not yet inquired about the wishes of Acting Chief Moon and Justice Lee.
Acting Chief Park stated that protection for other Constitutional Court justices will be maintained for the time being, saying, "It is still too early to lift protection. We will monitor the situation further."
The police also decided to maintain a 24-hour security system around the Constitutional Court area in Jongno District, Seoul, for the time being. Currently, mobile units are on duty in shifts with 4 units during the day and 3 units at night. The enhanced security measures will continue, but barriers surrounding the court will be gradually removed and police presence will be adjusted according to the situation.
Regarding the gathering at the Constitutional Court area on the 4th, the day of the impeachment ruling against President Yoon Suk-yeol, Acting Chief Park noted, "The mature civic awareness of the participants was very prominent." Aside from one man who was arrested and charged for damaging a police bus with a baton, there were no injuries reported among either the police or the protesters.
Acting Chief Park explained that the police's establishment of a so-called "vacuum state" within 150 meters of the Constitutional Court and designating Jongno and Jung-gu as special crime prevention zones was effective. He also cited the organic cooperation with various agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Seoul City, fire services, Seoul Transportation Corporation, and medical institutions as factors for maintaining public safety.
However, since February, there have been incidents in which three police officers passed away or collapsed while working or returning home. Acting Chief Park expressed, "As the head of the Seoul police, my heart aches. I feel sorry not only for the individuals involved but also for their families." He stated that a dedicated care team will be established to provide support.
He mentioned that due to the prolonged impeachment situation leading to fatigue amongst the mobile unit personnel, their deployment rate would be reduced from the previous 80% to 70%, and sufficient leave and rest time would be guaranteed.
The police plan to identify and investigate the man who threw an egg at Democratic Party member Baek Hye-ryun during a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court on the 20th of last month.