Under control: Police officers monitoring the traffic ahead of the verdict against Yoon near the Constitutional Court in Seoul. — AFP
THE country’s opposition lawmakers called for extra security after an MP was hit in the face with an egg outside a court, with police bracing for unrest ahead of an expected ruling on the fate of the country’s impeached president.
President Yoon Suk-yeol was suspended by lawmakers over his disastrous Dec 3 declaration of martial law, and the court last month held weeks of tense impeachment hearings to decide whether to formally strip him of office.
Despite experts predicting a verdict by mid-March, the Constitutional Court has yet to issue its final ruling – making Yoon’s case the longest deliberation in its history.
Opposition MP Back Hye-ryun was addressing reporters outside the court, urging justices to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, when she was hit by at least one raw egg yesterday.
Police later confirmed that bananas were also thrown.
Police have not identified an attacker. But authorities have pointed to Yoon supporters, who were staging a protest in the area.
“In light of the gravity of the case, we have formed an investigation task force,” the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a statement.
Opposition lawmakers visited the National Police Agency, urging the police to reinforce security near the court.
The Constitutional Court has become a flashpoint as Yoon’s supporters and opponents await its ruling, which will decide whether to formally remove him from office.
The court said yesterday it would deliver its impeachment verdict on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo – who was impeached by lawmakers after he stepped in as acting president – on Monday.
Han had refused opposition demands to appoint new judges to the Constitutional Court so it could hear Yoon’s case promptly.
But a court spokesperson said that Yoon’s case is “not expected to have a separate verdict notice this week”, indicating there will be no ruling until later next week at the earliest.
Police plan to deploy “100 percent of available personnel” and are prepared to mobilise “all available equipment” on the day of the verdict to prevent clashes near the court, according to a police report.
About 14,000 officers from 210 riot police units will be stationed in Seoul. — AFP
