South Korean police to deploy 14,000 personnel in Seoul as c
South Korean police to deploy 14,000 personnel in Seoul as court poised to rule on Yoon's impeachment
South Korean police have decided to deploy some 14,000 personnel in Seoul, as the Constitutional Court is poised to rule on South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case
SEOUL — South Korean police have decided to deploy some 14,000 personnel
in Seoul, according to sources familiar with the matter on Tuesday, as the
Constitutional Court is poised to rule on South Korean President Yoon Suk
Yeol's impeachment case later this week.
The court said it will deliver its verdict on whether to
dismiss or reinstate Yoon over his failed martial law bid on Friday. For
months, political polarisation has deepened between supporters and opponents of
Yoon's impeachment over his failed martial law bid.
The National Police Agency placed police forces on the
"Gapho" alert, the highest level that puts all available police
forces on emergency standby, starting Thursday midnight.
In addition, police will immediately arrest those who
attempt to break into the Constitutional Court compound and have beefed up
security services for all Constitutional Court justices.
Should Yoon decide to attend the court for the verdict,
police will take measures to secure the pathway from the Presidential residence
to the Constitutional Court, and separate the protesters calling for or against
Yoon's impeachment on the way.
Yoon's legal representatives said a decision was yet to
be made on whether Yoon will attend the court on Friday, Yonhap news agency
reported.
Shortly after the court's announcement of a date for
Yoon's impeachment ruling, anti-Yoon protesters near Gwanghwamun Square, where
they were holding an overnight sit-in, welcomed it and shouted "immediate
ouster" of the suspended President.
Yoon Bok-nam, the President of Lawyers for a Democratic
Society, also known as Minbyun, told reporters that the date for Yoon's
impeachment ruling "came much too late, but it is still a relief".
However, pro-Yoon protesters near the Constitutional
Court chanted "dismiss impeachment" while waving Korean and American
flags.
Police had reportedly mobilised some 3,200 personnel near
the Constitutional Court as of Tuesday afternoon following the court's announcement.
They plan to turn the area around the court into a
"vacuum state" by blocking access by the public, prompting pro-Yoon
groups to remove tents installed near the court.
South Korea:
Parties give mixed response to court's imminent verdict on Yoon's impeachment
The South Korean rival political parties gave mixed
responses on Tuesday to an imminent ruling by the Constitutional Court on South
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, with the ruling party voicing
hope that the case would be dismissed, and the main Opposition party saying
Yoon should be removed from office.
At 11 a.m. on Friday, the court will decide whether to
reinstate or dismiss Yoon, who was impeached by the National Assembly on
charges of violating the Constitution and laws through his brief imposition of
martial law on December 3.
"We expect every justice of the Constitutional Court
to make a neutral and impartial decision in consideration of national
interests," the ruling People Power Party (PPP)'s interim leader, Kwon
Young-se, told reporters.
Kwon expressed hope that Yoon's impeachment motion would
be dismissed, stressing that the Opposition parties should respect whatever
outcome is ultimately reached.
The main Opposition Democratic Party (DP), meanwhile,
welcomed the court's decision to deliver the ruling this week, stressing that
the court should formally remove Yoon from office.
"It's at least a relief that the ruling is scheduled
for Friday," DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said. "The best verdict to
quell and end the current situation surrounding the insurrection is without a
doubt to dismiss Yoon -- the mastermind behind the insurrection."
Park expressed confidence that the court would rule
unanimously in favour of Yoon's impeachment, Yonhap news agency reported.
Currently, the court has an eight-member Bench, and
consent by at least six standing judges is necessary to uphold Yoon's
impeachment.
Yoon was impeached on December 14 over his failed bid to
impose martial law.
It took 63 days for former South Korean President Roh
Moo-hyun to be reinstated and 92 days for former President Park Geun-hye to be
removed from office from the passage of their impeachment motions.
With 107 days having passed since Yoon's impeachment, the
court has yet to rule on the case. On April 18, the terms of two judges
appointed by the previous administration will expire.
