South Korean Police Gear Up for Potential Unrest Ahead of Impeachment Ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea’s police are preparing to deploy “all available resources” to prevent violence and maintain order as the country braces for a pivotal court decision on the impeachment of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, the head of Seoul’s police force said on Monday.
The Constitutional Court is expected to deliver its ruling on whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment this month, following his controversial declaration of martial law. Both his supporters and detractors are expected to take to the streets of Seoul in what could be a volatile showdown.
Yoon, whose brief suspension of civilian rule sparked political chaos in South Korea, was arrested in January on charges of insurrection but was released over the weekend on procedural grounds. His arrest had previously led to violent clashes, including an incident in which his supporters stormed a Seoul court, smashing windows and doors after a judge extended his detention.
Seoul’s acting police chief, Park Hyun-soo, emphasized the need for a firm response, saying that authorities were ready to prevent clashes, especially around the Constitutional Court. “We are fully prepared to use all available equipment, including barricades, to ensure safety. The area within 100 meters of the court will be designated as a protest-free zone to create a ‘vacuum’ in that space,” Park explained at a press conference.
The police have also been undergoing special training in crowd control tactics, including the use of pepper spray and batons, while considering the deployment of special forces to handle potential bomb threats.
Authorities are also taking precautions with nearby schools, construction sites, and petrol stations, which may be closed on the day of the ruling due to concerns that protest materials could be stored there.
In addition to the impeachment trial, President Yoon faces a criminal case for insurrection related to his declaration of martial law in December.
He stands as the first sitting South Korean president to face a criminal trial. Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung confirmed that the prosecution would press on with the case, despite Yoon’s unexpected release from detention. “We will continue to pursue the case with full force,” Shim stated.
