South Korea’s acting president urges calm; tighter security ahead of Yoon impeachment ruling

SEOUL - South Korea’s interim leader Han Duck-soo on April 2 called on the nation to calmly accept the decision from the Constitutional Court on the

impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol,

as police ramped up security around the court ahead of the ruling on April 4.

At a ministerial meeting on safety ahead of the historic ruling, Mr Han said he “strongly asked” politicians not to make any comments that could incite violence.

“The government will not tolerate any illegal or violent acts. No matter what decision is made, we must accept the results calmly based on the rule of law,” he said.

“If we can become one again with your strength and wisdom, we can overcome this crisis of confusion and conflicts.”

The Constitutional Court, which is reviewing Mr Yoon's impeachment over his shock martial law order, will announce its decision on whether to remove him from office permanently or reinstate him on April 4.

Mr Yoon was impeached by Parliament

on Dec 14 after being accused of violating his constitutional duty by declaring martial law in early December with no justifiable grounds.

If the court rules to oust him, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days.

South Korean police have beefed up security in areas around the court and are prepared to deploy all forces from midnight into the ruling day on April 4.

Mr Lee Ho-young, acting chief for the national police force, said the area around the court would be turned into a “vacuum state” to restrict access and cordon off pro- and anti-Yoon rallies to prevent any potential clashes. Vowing to act sternly against any violence, he said the police will arrest those who vandalise facilities, threaten justices or assault police officers.

In January, hundreds of supporters of Mr Yoon stormed a court building after his detention was extended, smashing windows and breaking inside.

Mr Han has directed police to step up security for Constitutional Court justices.

Amid deepening political strife, opposition parties brought

a motion to impeach Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok

in Parliament on April 2.

Mr Choi was the second acting president, and had angered opposition parties that have a commanding majority in Parliament by repeatedly vetoing Bills and not appointing a constitutional justice approved by the Assembly.

The opposition parties are, however, likely to hold off voting on Mr Choi’s impeachment Bill before Mr Yoon’s ruling.

Bracing themselves for big rallies and a heavy police presence on the ruling day, foreign embassies have issued alerts calling for extra caution.

The US embassy in Seoul said on April 2 that it would cancel routine consular operations like visa interviews on the afternoon of April 3 and all day on April 4.

The Chinese embassy has told its nationals to stay away from large political protests and not to participate in those rallies. REUTERS