South Korean authorities are ramping up security as the Constitutional Court prepares to deliver its verdict on the impeachment of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. With thousands of police personnel deployed across Seoul, the country is bracing for potential unrest, especially given the high stakes surrounding Yoon’s impeachment over his failed martial law bid.
On Thursday, police raised their alert level to the second-highest, planning to deploy approximately 14,000 officers in the capital. The eight-judge court is set to rule on whether to reinstate Yoon, who was impeached by the National Assembly in December. A verdict in his favor would see him immediately resume his duties, while a removal would trigger a snap presidential election within 60 days. A minimum of six judges must vote to uphold the impeachment for it to stand.
In preparation, police have completed a “vacuum zone” operation around the court, sealing the area with buses. The military has also been directed to enhance surveillance measures against North Korea. While the verdict will be broadcast live and open to public attendance, President Yoon, according to his legal team, will not attend the session. He was arrested in January on charges of criminal rebellion but was released from prison last month after a district court canceled his arrest and allowed him to stand trial without detention.
