Major palaces to close Friday amid safety concerns over Yoon verdict

Major palaces in Seoul will be closed Friday as a precautionary measure when the Constitutional Court delivers its verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his short-lived martial law bid.

For safety reasons, Gyeongbok, Changdeok and Deoksu palaces will all shut down for the day, the Korea Heritage Service said on its website on Tuesday, citing the need to "protect cultural heritage and prevent visitor accidents."

With the closures, various cultural events, including the Royal Guards Changing Ceremony at Gyeongbok Palace's Heungnye Gate, have been canceled. The palace's Starlight Tour, originally scheduled for Friday, has been postponed to April 14.

The Constitutional Court is located in Bukchon, a historic and tourist-heavy district in central Seoul that has seen major protests in recent months, drawing both supporters and opponents of President Yoon.

Other cultural sites in the area, including the Seoul Museum of Craft Art and Unhyeon Royal Residence, will also close for the day.

The National Folk Museum of Korea, which is situated inside Gyeongbok Palace, is also expected to close on that day. Authorities will decide whether to extend the closures based on the situation's developments.

The court's ruling is set to be announced live at 11 a.m. Friday. (Yonhap)