Seoul Metro Line 3 trains will bypass Anguk Station from 4 p.m. on the 3rd without stopping. This measure is taken to prevent safety accidents as participants in pro and anti-impeachment rallies are expected to gather ahead of the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial scheduled for the 4th.
The Seoul Transportation Corporation noted in a safety guidance text message sent around 4:02 p.m. that "starting from 4 p.m. today, Line 3 will bypass Anguk Station without stopping in anticipation of crowd congestion."
Anguk Station is the nearest subway station to the Constitutional Court. Since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against President Yoon on December 16 last year, pro and anti-impeachment rallies have been continuously held in the area around Anguk Station. As of 4 p.m. that day, the anti-impeachment rally is taking place near exit 5 of Anguk Station, while the pro-impeachment rally is occurring near exit 6.
Earlier, the Seoul Transportation Corporation closed exits 1 to 4, which are closest to the Constitutional Court, from 12 p.m. on the 1st. Metal shutters were also put down inside the station to restrict passenger flow. Starting from 4 p.m. that day, barricades were set up, and exits 5 and 6 were also closed.
The Seoul Transportation Corporation initially planned for trains to bypass Anguk Station without stopping from the first train on the 4th. However, as the police requested the construction side to bypass the station in anticipation of crowd congestion, they complied. With pro and anti-impeachment rallies staging an overnight sit-in ahead of the ruling, it seems they took preemptive measures due to the potential growth in the scale of the gathering.
A Seoul Transportation Corporation official said, "We apologize for the inconvenience caused to those using the subway during rush hour," adding, "As this is a measure for everyone's safety, we ask for active cooperation."
In addition to Anguk Station, the Seoul Transportation Corporation will implement safety measures at 11 stations where crowd congestion is anticipated due to pro and anti-impeachment rallies: Jonggak Station on Line 1, City Hall Station on Lines 1 and 2, Jongno 3-ga Station on Lines 1, 3, and 5, Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2, Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, Gwanghwamun Station, Yeouido Station, and Yeouinaru Station on Line 5, and Hangangjin Station, Itaewon Station, and Beotigogae Station on Line 6. If safety accidents are a concern, bypassing without stopping will be implemented, and if deemed necessary, exits will be blocked to restrict passenger movement.