By Kim Bo-eun
Supporters of the embattled President Park Geun-hye have vowed to camp out at the Constitutional Court once it decides on the date it will announce its ruling on her impeachment.
The group leading the anti-impeachment rallies said members will gather at the court in central Seoul a day before the delivery of the ruling for an overnight rally.
It said 500,000 members will take part, with buses bringing participants from 12 cities and provinces across the country.
Meanwhile, the coalition of civic groups supporting the impeachment said it will hold a rally on the eve of the ruling at Gwanghwamun Square and march to Anguk Station near the court. The anti-Park protesters will also likely hold a rally throughout the night in the area.
Police plan to line up buses to separate the clashing groups, and restrict rallies in front of the court on the day of the ruling.
Police warned against violence and illegal activities, as protests by anti-impeachment groups have started posing physical threats to justices and investigators of late.
A pro-Park group member disclosed the home address and hair salon frequented by Lee Jung-mi, the acting president of the Constitutional Court, which police said they will investigate.
Earlier, group members also brought baseball bats to protests held in front of independent counsel Park Young-soo’s home, shouting threats and burning a banner with the counsel’s face, prompting him to file an injunction to ban rallies in front of his home.
On Monday, a member of a pro-Park online community posted a photo of two bamboo spears bearing the South Korean flag Taegeukgi.
“We cannot forecast when there will be physical clashes with participants of the pro-impeachment rallies. In the unfortunate event of the Constitutional Court deciding to accept the impeachment, we must view this as a death sentence to the Republic of Korea. Then our peaceful protests must be switched to waging a battle,” the post said.
The post drew comments from others saying they would also take part. The post was later deleted after generating controversy.
“Regulations on rallies state participants cannot bring dangerous items such as firearms, blunt objects or stones, and organizers and participants must adhere to these regulations,” said Kim Jung-hoon, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) in a press conference, Monday.
“We are thoroughly preparing to prevent conflicts at the rallies which will take place before and on the day of the Constitutional Court’s ruling.”
The SMPA chief added police will take legal action such as arresting violators if deemed necessary.