Court to rule on South Korea PM's impeachment next week

SEOUL — South Korea's Constitutional Court said on Thursday it will deliver a decision on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment on March 24, after he was suspended as acting president last year.

The ruling on whether to oust Han or restore his position will be carefully watched as it comes ahead of a highly anticipated impeachment ruling by the same court on suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The Constitutional Court has yet to announce a date for its ruling on whether to uphold Yoon's impeachment or restore his presidential powers.

Han was impeached as acting president by South Korea's parliament more than two months ago amid the country's worst political turmoil in decades.

Han took over as acting leader from Yoon, who was himself impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law last year.

Han had been in the position of acting president for less than two weeks and was impeached on Dec 27 after clashing with the opposition-led parliament by refusing to appoint three more justices to the Constitutional Court.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok assumed the position of acting president while the cases of Yoon and Han were considered by the Constitutional Court.

With police bracing for unrest ahead of an expected ruling on the fate of Yoon, opposition lawmakers called on Thursday for extra security after a Member of Parliament was hit in the face with an egg outside a court.

Opposition MP Back Hye-ryun was addressing reporters outside the court, urging justices to uphold Yoon's impeachment, when she was hit by an egg on Thursday. Police later confirmed bananas were also thrown.

Police have not identified the attacker. But authorities have pointed to Yoon supporters, who were staging a protest in the area.

"In light of the gravity of the case, we have formed an investigation task force," the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a statement.

Opposition lawmakers visited the National Police Agency, urging the police to reinforce security near the court.

Police plan to deploy "100 percent of available personnel" and are prepared to mobilize "all available equipment" on the day of the verdict to prevent clashes near the court, according to a police report seen by AFP on Thursday.

About 14,000 officers from 210 riot police units, more than half of the entire national riot police force, will be stationed in the capital Seoul.

"Plainclothes officers will be positioned inside the Constitutional Court, while police special forces will remain on standby in surrounding areas," the report stated.

Police have restricted access to 22 rooftops near the court and the area has been designated a "no-fly zone "with authorities preparing "anti-drone equipment".

The country's acting police chief has said previously the area around the court will be designated "a protest-free zone".

In addition to the impeachment verdict, Yoon also faces a criminal trial on charges of insurrection for declaring martial law in December, making him the first sitting South Korean president to stand trial in a criminal case.