Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Friday reaffirmed the policy of "zero tolerance" for any acts of violence challenging public authority as the Constitutional Court moves closer to delivering its ruling on whether to reinstate or remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
"As tensions rise between both sides of the impeachment debate ahead of the court's crucial decision, public concerns over potential physical clashes and security risks are growing," Choi said during a meeting with ministers on public safety.
The Constitutional Court is expected to announce its ruling later this month, raising the likelihood of large-scale rallies by both supporters and opponents of Yoon, which could possibly lead to confrontations.
"In particular, any acts that challenge public authority, such as destruction of property, arson or assaults on police officers, will be met with strict legal action under a zero-tolerance policy," he said.
Choi also pledged to uphold the rule of law and strengthen measures to maintain public order by mobilizing all available police resources to areas around the court on the day of the ruling.
He further urged the nation to respect and accept the court's decision, emphasizing that the country's democratic resilience is being tested.
In January, Yoon's supporters stormed into the Seoul Western District Court in protest against the court's decision to formally arrest the suspended president, resulting in injuries to police officers and destruction of court property. (Yonhap)
