By Kim Hyo-jin
A knife attack on U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert has drawn attention to the level of security the ambassador had at a breakfast speech event.
The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC), the host of the event that Lippert was attending at the time of the attack, issued an apology.
“We apologize for lacking a security plan for an emergency at the venue,” the statement read. “We will not avoid any responsibility and fully cooperate with the police in their investigation.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency unveiled plans to strengthen security for foreign envoys, during a press conference at Jongno Police Station, but pointed out that it had not received a request for a security detail for Lippert’s appearance Thursday.
“Ambassador Lippert was not the subject of police security,” Jongno Police Station Chief Yoon Myung-seong said. “The U.S. embassy didn’t ask for security personnel, so we took no special action for the event.”
Twenty-five policemen, one detective and two National Intelligence Service officers were at the venue. Embassies must call for special police escorts in advance.
Still, experts cite the need for greater security for foreign envoys.
“Police should have screened the assailant beforehand,” said Professor Yoo Hyung-chang at the Security Department of Kyungnam University.
The assailant, identified as 55-year-old Kim Ki-jong, attacked the Japanese ambassador to Korea in 2010.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy refused to confirm whether they had a security detail for the ambassador at the event.
Lippert, who took up his post in October, is well-known and popular for his public diplomacy.
He has an active Twitter account and openly talks to people at public events. Recently, he gave his newborn son a Korean middle name, Sejun.
Rep. Chang Yoon-seok of the ruling Saenuri Party and co-director of the KCRC, held a press briefing at the National Assembly after the attack.
Chang said he was the first person who wrestled the assailant to the ground before the police arrived.
“I was sitting on the left side of Lippert at the head table. I was able to reach the assailant first,” he said. “But I didn’t notice if there was any security personnel around Lippert. And I felt it took a while for policemen to show up while I was holding the assailant down.”