The South Korean Constitutional Court will announce whether impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol will return to office on April 4. Extraordinary security measures will be implemented in the country on the day of the decision.

The South Korean Constitutional Court announced that it will make a decision on whether Yoon Suk Yeol, who was temporarily removed from the presidency following martial law, will return to his duties on April 4. According to Yonhap, it was stated in the announcement from the Court that public participation and live broadcasts will be allowed when the decision is announced. The announcement mentioned that the decision on Yoon’s return to office will be shared with the public around 11:00 local time on April 4. Additionally, the South Korean National Police Agency declared that police forces in the country will be raised to the highest level of emergency, known as “Gapho,” for Yoon’s impeachment case. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency also revealed that roads near the Constitutional Court in the capital will be closed, with 810 personnel assigned for traffic control in the area. On March 19, the National Police Agency had decided to deploy 14,000 riot police officers in Seoul to intervene in any incidents that may arise on the day of the impeachment verdict for Yoon.

SOME PALACES TO BE CLOSED ON DECISION DAY The Korean Heritage Service under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in South Korea announced that Gyeongbok, Changdeok, and Deoksu palaces will be closed on April 4 when the decision regarding Yoon will be made, citing “preservation of cultural heritage and prevention of visitor accidents.” The guard-changing ceremony and tours planned at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on April 4 have also been canceled. Moreover, several other cultural sites in the city, including the Seoul Crafts Museum and the Unhyeon Royal Residence, will remain closed throughout the day. In the event of Yoon’s impeachment, South Korea legally requires a presidential election to be held within 60 days. On the other hand, in case the impeachment request is rejected, Yoon will remain in office until 2027.

PRESIDENT’S JUDICIAL PROCESS South Korea’s National Assembly sought Yoon’s impeachment on the grounds that the declaration of martial law was unconstitutional, leading to his removal from office. Consequently, Yoon was detained on January 15 as part of the martial law investigation. Yoon, the first president in South Korean history to be arrested, was transferred to a detention center after more than 10 hours of interrogation. Accused of “leading an uprising” and “abusing his power,” Yoon was arrested on January 19 by the Seoul Western District Court. However, he was released from the Seoul Detention Center on March 8 following the decision of the Seoul Central District Court. While the court allowed Yoon to stand trial without physical detention, the impeachment process and criminal lawsuits against him are ongoing.