By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
President-elect Lee Myung-bak will be treated much the same as the incumbent President Roh Moo-hyun until his inauguration early next year.
``As the National Election Commission (NEC) officially declares his winning the election, Lee will be treated as the present President in security until Feb. 25, 2008,'' said Kim Soo-byung, spokesman for the Presidential Security Service told The Korea Times. The responsibility for Lee's security was transferred to the Presidential Security Service from the police shortly after the NEC's announcement on Thursday morning.
The security service said Wednesday afternoon that it had organized a special escort team for the elected Lee. ``It had created a special squad in accordance with regulations. And now it is escorting Lee,'' Kim said.
The government has provided him with a bulletproof vehicle. Lee is also accompanied by more than 30 heavily armed members of the Presidential Security Service. The security team includes those who personally escort Lee, monitor communications, maintain security matters and even inspect his food. The team is also escorting Lee's parents and children.
The police will also collaborate with the security team.
``A total of 36 armed policemen along with a heavily armed squad had been protecting President-elect Lee Myung-bak. But the number increased significantly from Thursday morning,'' said Lee In-gul, spokesperson for the National Police Agency.
The number of policemen dispatched to the Grand National Party to which Lee belongs and his residence in Seoul also increased notably but the exact figures have not been given.