South Korean police stated Wednesday that 14,000 riot officers will be deployed in Seoul to prepare for any potential unrest on the day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment hearing for his brief proclamation of martial law in December.
According to police officers, the amount represents almost 60% of the nation’s available riot police, who will be mobilised under the highest degree of security alert.
In a statement, the police said they had planned to deploy 12,000 officers but had raised the number to better handle unanticipated scenarios that could come from large-scale protests and potential attacks on significant buildings, including the court and its judges.
The eight-judge Constitutional Court, which concluded Yoon’s impeachment trial over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration late last month, is expected to issue its long-awaited verdict this week.
The statute requires the assent of at least six judges to uphold the impeachment. If they sustain it, a new presidential election must take place within 60 days.
If it is dismissed, Yoon will return to his duties immediately and serve for the remainder of his constitutional term until 2027.
The day of the sentencing hearing has yet to be announced.
Any protesters storming the court will be arrested on the spot as criminal justice police officers will be deployed to the court premises and special police forces will also be on standby.
The areas surrounding the court have been designated a no-fly zone since last Thursday.
Police will also deploy anti-drone equipment to prepare for potential illegal drone flights.
Schools, one subway station, one petrol station and four construction sites near the court will stay shut on the sentencing day, and access to the rooftop entrances of almost two dozen 22 neighbouring buildings has also been blocked.
In January, hundreds of Yoon supporters poured into a Seoul courtroom to protest the court’s decision to formally jail the suspended president.
