The Constitutional Court announced it would issue a ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on the 4th, prompting groups advocating for his impeachment to occupy roads near the court and hold an overnight vigil starting the evening of the 1st. As a result, traffic congestion occurred on the way to work on the morning of the 2nd due to blocked access into downtown Seoul.
According to the Seoul city and police, the group 'Immediate resignation of Yoon Suk Yeol and emergency action for social reform' occupied all six lanes of Yulgok-ro between Anguk Intersection and Anguk Station since the previous evening, staging an overnight sit-in protest.
As of 10 a.m. on that day, about 500 participants were engaged in the impeachment protest on the road. They spread out mats on the asphalt and covered themselves with foil blankets to withstand the cold overnight. Protesters held placards with messages such as 'Isn't it good to dismiss Yoon Suk Yeol, the leader of insurrection?' 'The Constitutional Court must rule for dismissal' and 'Dissolve the People Power Party that colludes with insurrection.' Some appeared sleepy, using placards to shield themselves from the sunlight or looking at the podium with one eye open.
Due to this protest, police have been restricting all lanes in a 420-meter section from Angukdong Intersection to Anguk Station on Yulgok-ro since 8:43 p.m. the previous day. Consequently, traffic congestion occurred in the vicinity of the Constitutional Court on the morning of that day. Jongno District sent a safety text message around 7:05 a.m., asking citizens to use alternate routes. By 11 a.m. on that day, the traffic obstruction and road occupation had not been resolved.
Opponents of President Yoon's impeachment, including the Free Unification Party, staged a protest near Exit 5 of Anguk Station on subway line 3 on the morning of that day, shouting 'Impeachment invalid.' Around 200 people participated in this demonstration. On Samil-daero in front of Suwon Hall, only one lane in each direction is open to traffic due to the road closure.
Protests are expected to continue throughout the night. Groups supporting impeachment, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Korea Teachers and Education Workers Union, will hold an overnight sit-in in front of Exit 1 and Exit 6 of Anguk Station. The Korea Teachers and Education Workers Union reported it would hold a rally with about 50,000 participants starting at 10:30 a.m. Additionally, the candlelight movement and the resignation movement have announced they will each hold rallies with approximately 100,000 participants starting at 7 p.m. The opponents of impeachment are also expected to continue their demonstration in front of Exit 5 of Anguk Station.