Tension Rises Before Constitutional Court as Yoon Appears... Supporters Claim "Illegal Detention, Illegal Arrest"

Gatherings Prohibited Within 100 Meters of the Constitutional Court by Law
Police Restrict Passage Near Anguk Station
Scuffles Break Out With Some Supporters

"Illegal Detention, Illegal Arrest"

A supporter of President Yoon Seok-yeol is shouting at police officers blocking the passage at Exit 2 of Anguk Station in Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Park Seung-wook

Tension is rising as supporters gather in front of the Constitutional Court when President Yoon Seok-yeol appeared on the day of the impeachment trial hearing.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, in front of Exit 2 of Anguk Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, supporters of President Yoon waved the Taegeukgi and the U.S. flag, shouting slogans such as "Illegal Detention · Illegal Arrest" and "Release the President."

The police deployed 3,500 officers from 54 riot police units around the Constitutional Court. About 160 police buses were deployed, and multiple layers of barricades were set up. At the paths leading to the court, 4 to 5 police officers were stationed to prevent protesters from entering the Constitutional Court.

Supporters of President Yoon Seok-yeol gathered in front of Exit 5 of Anguk Station in Seoul on the 23rd, shouting slogans opposing impeachment. Photo by Park Seung-wook

There were also clashes between the police and some supporters. One supporter shouted at the police who blocked the entrance, "How can the police block the path of the people? Are you really police? Did we even attack?" He then raised his voice, saying, "Foreigners are allowed to pass, so why are our right to passage ignored?"

Another supporter, blocked from proceeding, shouted anti-impeachment slogans near Anguk Station. Holding a Taegeukgi and a placard reading "STOP THE STEAL," he said, "We must protect the value of freedom" in front of Exit 3 of Anguk Station.

According to Article 11 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, assemblies are prohibited within 100 meters of the Constitutional Court, except for one-person protests. The police explained, "Assemblies and demonstrations in front of the Constitutional Court are prohibited, so please go to Exit 5 of Anguk Station, which is the designated protest site."

Earlier, President Yoon departed from Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province, at around 12:23 p.m. in a Ministry of Justice escort van and arrived at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at around 12:47 p.m. that day.