Deployment of 1,500 Police Riot Squad Officers
External Access Restricted
Entry Inspections Intensified
On the 4th, the National Assembly strengthened its security and guard posture ahead of the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol. The heightened alert level reflects concerns over potential unexpected incidents following the impeachment verdict.
On the 4th, the day of the impeachment trial verdict for President Yoon Suk-yeol, police are strengthening security by installing barricades around the fence of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the National Assembly Secretariat, from the previous day until the 6th, all external access to the National Assembly was completely restricted, and all scheduled events such as seminars and meetings hosted by members' offices during this period were canceled.
Only some of the outer gates of the National Assembly were opened, while the rest were closed.
As of 8 a.m. that day, a police riot squad of about 1,500 personnel was deployed around the National Assembly.
Police buses were lined up in front of the main gate of the National Assembly building. National Assembly security personnel guarded each entrance, checking the official IDs and access passes of everyone entering and exiting.
The National Assembly also increased its own security personnel compared to usual and intensified patrols within the premises.
The National Assembly took these measures in preparation for the possibility of protestors flocking to the Assembly following the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling on President Yoon on the 4th. It is also analyzed that recent threats of terrorism targeting the National Assembly influenced this decision.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat, recently, a man in his 70s, Mr. A, was found carrying a camping knife while passing through the security checkpoint at the rear gate of the Members' Office Building and was ordered to leave. Last month, a car collision accident occurred near the outer perimeter of the National Assembly.
Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, said on Facebook that day, calling it a "day of destiny," and expressed hope that "today will be remembered as the day when constitutional order is restored, and democracy and the rule of law come alive."
Meanwhile, the spring flower event scheduled this week near the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, was postponed to next week.
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