April 25, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Tension is rising in South Korea as the clock ticks toward the announcement of a court decision on President Park Geun-hye’s fate. 

Expected to last about an hour, the verdict hearing on the president’s impeachment trial will start at 11 a.m. and is to be broadcast live to the nation.

The police have tightened security outside the Constitutional Court and the presidential office. They will issue the highest alert on the nation’s capital to mobilize all forces to prevent a possible outbreak of violence on March 9.

The eight judges of the top court continued their closed-door deliberation on March 9 before the crucial vote -- expected to take place at the very last minute in the morning on March 9 -- on whether to uphold the parliamentary impeachment of Park, over a score of allegations.

Protestors for and against Park’s impeachment held heated rallies, with the lanes from Anguk Station near the court closed off by the police.

President Park remained silent. If the court decides to reinstate her, by rejecting the parliamentary impeachment or dropping the trial, she will likely address the public herself, an official from the presidential office said.

“We will calmly wait for the court’s decision,” the official said. 

By Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)