Police Consider Deploying Special Forces to Prepare for Crowds and Explosion Incidents on Yoon Impeachment Verdict Day

"Special Task Force Not for Suppressing Protests"
Police Emphasize Deployment Is for Rescue and Safety Operations

The police are considering deploying a special task force to prepare for crowd accidents and explosion incidents on the day of the impeachment ruling of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

Police installed barricades in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 6th, as the ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol was pending. Yonhap News

On the 10th, Park Hyun-soo, acting commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a regular press briefing, "We do not know what situation may arise on the day of the impeachment ruling, so we are considering deploying a special task force," adding, "The deployment is not to suppress protests at the demonstration sites but is being considered for rescue operations in case of casualties." He continued, "Given the recent posts related to bombing the Constitutional Court, the special task force may also be mobilized for explosive detection."

The highest alert status, Gapho emergency, is still under review. Acting Commissioner Park said, "The Gapho emergency was also declared on the day of former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment in 2017," and added, "We are consulting with headquarters regarding the Gapho emergency." He also stated, "Not only the riot police but also temporarily formed units and local support units will be fully mobilized." The Gapho emergency is the police's highest alert level, allowing the deployment of all available police personnel.

Additionally, the police plan to mobilize more than 30 police chiefs at the rank of superintendent from frontline police stations in Seoul to divide areas such as Jung-gu and Jongno-gu into eight zones designated as crime prevention reinforcement areas for management. Each of the eight zones will have a superintendent-level officer as the regional head, responsible for responding to 112 emergency calls, safety management, and maintaining order. To this end, cooperation will be strengthened with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, local governments, fire departments, and education offices.

Meanwhile, the police are closely monitoring posts predicting violent incidents at the Constitutional Court that continue to surface. So far, through monitoring, the police have received 60 reports of posts predicting violent incidents and are investigating them.