Appointment of new chief justice won't slow down process
By Jung Min-ho
The Constitutional Court reaffirmed Friday that it will hold its final hearing for the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye on Feb. 27 regardless of plans to appoint a new chief justice.
The statement comes after Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae announced the highest court would appoint a new chief justice for the Constitutional Court as early as next week. The court will only have seven justices out of the nine-member bench after acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi retires on March 13.
Asked about the possibility of the final hearing being delayed, a court official said at a press briefing, "There will be no change in the schedule. The final hearing will be held on Feb. 27 as we've announced earlier."
It is seen as an ultimatum to the President's lawyers who have asked the court to put off the final hearing.
Security beefed up
Meanwhile, tensions are mounting ahead of a court decision on the fate of President Park, who was impeached by the National Assembly in December.
Over security concerns, private security guards and police officers have been deployed to protect Moon Jae-in, the most popular candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, as well as the Constitutional Court's eight justices.
When Moon visited Yeongcheon Market in western Seoul, Thursday, he was accompanied by four private security guards.
This came a couple of days after a "wanted ad" for assassins to target Moon started to circulate in online far-right communities.
The ad says, "We are looking for people who are willing to die anytime for Korea. We prefer those who are skilled at martial arts. Even if you are not, you are qualified as long as you are willing to risk your life to save the country on the brink of sinking just like Yu Gwan-sun, Yun Bong-gil and An Jung-geun did."
It is unclear who made the ad in the first place, but it has spread quickly through the instant message app KakaoTalk and other online channels.
On such digital platforms, it is easy to find messages that encourage people to "assassinate" or harm popular left-wing politicians, journalists and anyone who is deemed to be critical of the Park administration, which has collapsed under a massive influence-peddling scandal involving her close friend Choi Soon-sil.
On Friday, police officers started to watch over all the Constitutional Court justices around the clock.
Police decided to act after the court requested protection Wednesday as tensions rose ahead of its verdict, which is expected to be made by March 13.
Park's lawyers appear to think the court is not on their side. Over the past few days, they have expressed disapproval of its justices, questioning the fairness of the process and delivering strongly worded warnings during hearings.
"It is difficult to say the court is doing a fair job," Kim Pyung-woo, one of her lawyers, claimed at Wednesday's hearing. "This is the path that will destroy the court, which won't exist after a ruling ... protesters with candles and flags will collide and the streets will be covered with tears and blood."
His provocative comments have been well received by Park supporters, some of whom threaten to start a revolution if the court makes a verdict not in their favor.
The scandal has brought millions of people out to the streets calling for Park's impeachment or reinstatement, with both sides staging increasingly heated rallies each week.
Police are bracing for major rallies planned for Saturday and March 1 (Korea's Independence Movement Day).
By Jung Min-ho
The Constitutional Court reaffirmed Friday that it will hold its final hearing for the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye on Feb. 27 regardless of plans to appoint a new chief justice.
The statement comes after Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae announced the highest court would appoint a new chief justice for the Constitutional Court as early as next week. The court will only have seven justices out of the nine-member bench after acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi retires on March 13.
Asked about the possibility of the final hearing being delayed, a court official said at a press briefing, "There will be no change in the schedule. The final hearing will be held on Feb. 27 as we've announced earlier."
It is seen as an ultimatum to the President's lawyers who have asked the court to put off the final hearing.
Security beefed up
Meanwhile, tensions are mounting ahead of a court decision on the fate of President Park, who was impeached by the National Assembly in December.
Over security concerns, private security guards and police officers have been deployed to protect Moon Jae-in, the most popular candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, as well as the Constitutional Court's eight justices.
When Moon visited Yeongcheon Market in western Seoul, Thursday, he was accompanied by four private security guards.
Kim Kyoung-soo, spokesman for the unofficial Moon presidential campaign, said the guards were hired after he confirmed specific threats against Moon from multiple sources.
This came a couple of days after a "wanted ad" for assassins to target Moon started to circulate in online far-right communities.
The ad says, "We are looking for people who are willing to die anytime for Korea. We prefer those who are skilled at martial arts. Even if you are not, you are qualified as long as you are willing to risk your life to save the country on the brink of sinking just like Yu Gwan-sun, Yun Bong-gil and An Jung-geun did."
It is unclear who made the ad in the first place, but it has spread quickly through the instant message app KakaoTalk and other online channels.
On such digital platforms, it is easy to find messages that encourage people to "assassinate" or harm popular left-wing politicians, journalists and anyone who is deemed to be critical of the Park administration, which has collapsed under a massive influence-peddling scandal involving her close friend Choi Soon-sil.
On Friday, police officers started to watch over all the Constitutional Court justices around the clock.
Police decided to act after the court requested protection Wednesday as tensions rose ahead of its verdict, which is expected to be made by March 13.
Park's lawyers appear to think the court is not on their side. Over the past few days, they have expressed disapproval of its justices, questioning the fairness of the process and delivering strongly worded warnings during hearings.
"It is difficult to say the court is doing a fair job," Kim Pyung-woo, one of her lawyers, claimed at Wednesday's hearing. "This is the path that will destroy the court, which won't exist after a ruling ... protesters with candles and flags will collide and the streets will be covered with tears and blood."
His provocative comments have been well received by Park supporters, some of whom threaten to start a revolution if the court makes a verdict not in their favor.
The scandal has brought millions of people out to the streets calling for Park's impeachment or reinstatement, with both sides staging increasingly heated rallies each week.
Police are bracing for major rallies planned for Saturday and March 1 (Korea's Independence Movement Day).
