On April 1, 2025, preparations intensified in South Korea as the Constitutional Court set the date for the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol for April 4, 2025, at 11 AM. The announcement triggered a series of security measures in the vicinity of the court, particularly affecting the Anguk Station on Seoul Subway Line 3, which is located nearby. From noon on April 1, exits 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Anguk Station were closed, while exits 5 and 6 remained accessible. On the day of the trial, the station will be completely closed to trains, operating without stops.
In anticipation of potential unrest, the police declared a ‘vacuum state’ within a 100-meter radius of the Constitutional Court. This designation means that no outsiders will be allowed to approach the court area, with police mobilizing 100% of their manpower as part of Alert Level 1 nationwide. Starting from April 1, police presence around the court has increased to deter any external gatherings.
In a strategic move, police may expand the designated vacuum zone to 300 meters depending on the situation surrounding the anticipated pro and con rallies. The third stage of their plan will involve creating a complete control area around Anguk Station, focusing on managing the crowds from both sides of the impeachment debate.
The police have mobilized approximately 20,000 officers from 338 mobile units across the country, with 62% of them, or about 14,000 officers, concentrated in Seoul. This mobilization comes in response to concerns about potential violence, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding the impeachment process.
On the same day, former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin expressed strong confidence in the outcome of the impeachment trial during an appearance on KBC's 'Evening News Roundtable'. He boldly predicted, "This will be a 100% impeachment with a vote of 8 to 0," citing the court's decision to allow live broadcasts of the proceedings and the permission granted for rallies both supporting and opposing the impeachment.
Park elaborated, stating, "For Moon Hyung-bae, in the case of the Constitutional Court Chief Justice's abuse of power, to reach a different conclusion from the entire public opinion and allow live broadcasts, it's a risky move." He likened the impeachment to a virus contaminating the entire judicial system, suggesting that the court's ruling would serve as a vaccine to restore order.
He remarked, "If the impeachment is dismissed, Yoon Suk-yeol is like a virus that contaminates the entire judicial system, and a vaccine will be introduced. But if the time drags on, the people will get angry and realize it's not a vaccine." Park's comments reflect a broader sentiment among opposition leaders that the court's actions are a reflection of its confidence in the impeachment process.
Addressing concerns about the possibility of the impeachment being dismissed, Park dismissed such notions as unrealistic. He stated, "I find it amusing to see the ruling party discussing the dismissal of the impeachment. I have no worries at all." He emphasized that the Constitutional Court judges would be compelled to provide justifications for either impeaching or dismissing Yoon's case in front of the public, suggesting that they would face significant pressure to act in accordance with public sentiment.
Park further speculated that the delay in scheduling the trial might be a tactic employed by some judges to buy time for a pending Supreme Court ruling regarding election law violations, which could potentially impact the political landscape. He noted, "Some judges might have been waiting for the outcome of Lee Jae-myung's case regarding the public election law before proceeding with the impeachment trial."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the trial's timing, Park remained resolute, stating, "Setting the impeachment trial date is different from actually impeaching or dismissing. People cannot be deceived, and Moon Hyung-bae's decision to set the date is an expression of confidence in an 8-0 impeachment, similar to Park Geun-hye's case."
The police are taking every precaution to ensure that the trial proceeds smoothly. A nationwide police command staff video conference will be held on April 2, 2025, to finalize security plans for the impeachment trial. This meeting, presided over by Commissioner General Lee Ho-young, will address the logistics and contingencies for managing the expected crowds and potential unrest.
As the country braces for the impending trial, the political atmosphere remains charged, with supporters and opponents of President Yoon preparing to make their voices heard. The outcome of the impeachment trial could have far-reaching implications for South Korea's political landscape, especially in light of the potential for early elections should the court rule in favor of impeachment.
In the lead-up to the trial, the markets have shown signs of reacting to the uncertainty, with fluctuations reflecting investor sentiment regarding the political climate. The KOSPI index, which has struggled in recent weeks, saw a brief recovery following the announcement of the trial date, indicating that investors are closely monitoring the developments.
As April 4 approaches, all eyes will be on the Constitutional Court, where the fate of President Yoon Suk-yeol hangs in the balance. The trial promises to be a pivotal moment in South Korea's ongoing political saga, with significant implications for governance and public trust in the judicial system.
