Tourists at Gyeongbokgung on Sunday (Yonhap)
Tourists at Gyeongbokgung on Sunday (Yonhap)

Safety concerns have prompted major palaces, museums and tourist spots near the Constitutional Court in central Seoul to close Friday when a verdict will either oust or reinstate President Yoon Suk Yeol, impeached over his martial law declaration in December.

Four of the five Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung — and state-run museums such as the National Palace Museum of Korea and National Folk Museum of Korea have announced closures, saying protests anticipated Friday could affect guest safety.

Changgyeonggung, the farthest of the four palaces from the court near Anguk Station in Jongno-gu, will close its nighttime tours only, though an official said daytime admission could be affected without prior notice.

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea and the Seoul Museum of Craft Art will not be open either. Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence compound now open to the public after its relocation to Yongsan-gu, will also be closed.

Police will cordon off streets and roads adjacent to the Constitutional Court. The ruling will be broadcast live from the court at 11 a.m., with 20 randomly selected citizens in attendance.

Whether the palaces and museums will remain closed after Friday remains unclear. Officials from the institutions said they would update the public on further changes to admission in a separate notice.


siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com