As the Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, police are intensifying security measures around the court. They are considering issuing a “Level A Emergency” alert, which would mobilize all available police forces, and plan to create a “vacuum state” by blocking external access to the court using barriers.
The police previously issued a Level A Emergency during the impeachment verdict of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, deploying approximately 21,600 officers across the city, particularly around the Constitutional Court and the Blue House. For the current proceedings, around 3,000 to 4,000 officers have been deployed near the court on hearing days, with expectations of significant travel restrictions in the area on the day of the verdict.
In response to the intense split in public opinion on the impeachment, preparation and response plans are in place. They include pre-verdict assembly training and personnel allocation, issuing an emergency alert around the verdict date, and managing the aftermath to control the societal impact.
Preparations also involve preventing potential violent outbreaks, such as the raid on the Western District Court in January. The police plan to organize reserve teams to address any unexpected events, focusing on preventing injuries or property damage. A notable incident being cautioned against is the self-immolation death near the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in January, with specific measures in place to prevent similar occurrences near the court vicinity.