South Korea to deploy 14,000 police officers to Seoul for President Yoon’s impeachment ruling
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The Seoul police plan to deploy some 14,000 officers, an increase from the initial 12,000 officers.
PHOTO: AFP
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SEOUL – The Korean National Police Agency will raise its emergency alert to the highest level on the day of the Constitutional Court’s final verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment
This is just one of many measures as the authorities ramp up security efforts to pre-empt potential safety threats as it is widely believed that the Constitutional Court’s final ruling nears, though an exact date has not yet been released.
According to the police, they are set to issue a “gapho” emergency – the highest emergency level in their emergency response system, which allows the mobilisation of up to 100 per cent of all available personnel across police agencies nationwide – on the day of Mr Yoon’s impeachment ruling.
About 20,000 officers in mobile police squads – the units used for crowd control – will be on standby for expected protests, with 338 units mobilised.
The police reportedly plan on deploying some 14,000 officers in Seoul, an increase from its initial plan for 12,000 officers. The officers will be able to use extendable batons and tear gas if necessary.
The mobile police squads will be tasked with managing large-scale gatherings, intense protests and attack threats on major facilities, including the Constitutional Court.
The police said investigators would also be deployed to the court premises to arrest any protesters who break into the court building, adding that there would be zero tolerance for violence or challenges to public authority.
The areas near the Constitutional Court have been designated a “no-fly” zone for drones since March 14, and police plan to deploy an anti-drone system there.
As well as the mobile police squads, special police units will be on standby to handle potential threats and emergencies.
Additional security measures in the general area will be implemented on the day of the impeachment ruling, including the temporary closures of one gas station, four construction sites and the rooftops of 22 buildings near the Constitutional Court.
A total of 513 Seoul firefighter paramedics and 84 ambulances will be deployed to the four major protest sites – Anguk station, Gwanghwamun, Yeouido and Hannam-dong – and they will cooperate with the police.
Temporary on-site medical centres will offer emergency treatment.
In the event of any medical emergencies, the police have reportedly made arrangements with Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, a major hospital about 2km from the court, to ensure the swift treatment of patients.
While the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to close Anguk station on the day of the court’s ruling, it might also close Hangangjin station on Line No. 6 – a metro station near the presidential residence in central Seoul – if concerns over safety issues arise.
At the discretion of the respective station directors on the ruling day, subway trains may skip stops at Gyeongbokgung station on Line No. 3; Gwanghwamun station and Jongno 3-ga station on Line No. 5; Jonggak station and City Hall station on Line No. 1; and Hanggangjin station on Line No. 6 to ensure public safety. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
