Police said Friday roads in central and western Seoul will be partially closed on Saturday as tens of thousands of people are expected to take to streets, as the political turmoil continues following the end of the hearings in suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, Tuesday.
Suspended from office and under detention, Yoon currently awaits the Constitutional Court verdict that will determine his fate, following the wrap-up of hearings over upholding his impeachment, Tuesday.
According to Seoul police, rallies in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, and Yeongdeungpo-gu, western Seoul, will likely cause traffic congestion, so they advise people to use the subway. Police added it would dispatch some 270 officers to control traffic near rally locations.
Starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, people calling on the Constitutional Court to confirm Yoon's impeachment will gather near the Anguk-dong four-way intersection in Jongno-gu. Then at 3:30 p.m., lawmakers from the five opposition parties are expected to lead a rally at this location. Then at 5 p.m., participants will start marching in the Sajikro area near Gyeongbokgung Station Exit No. 4.
Those opposing Yoon's impeachment will gather at 1 p.m. at Sejong-daero near the south end of Gyeongbokgung. This rally will be followed by a march to the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, via Euljiro.
A conservative Christian group will also hold a "national emergency prayer meeting" rally against removing Yoon in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, at the same time.
Saturday is a public holiday marking the 106th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, in which Koreans across the peninsula rose up in resistance to Japanese occupation, calling for independence on March 1, 1919, following Imperial Japan's annexation of the peninsula in 1910.
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