Police heighten security for politicians ahead of general elections
Police officers stand guard at Seoul National University Hospital, Wednesday, where the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung remains hospitalized after being attacked by a knife-wielding man the previous day. Yonhap
Police issued heightened alerts and are paying special attention to the safety of politicians following an attack on main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung during his visit to Busan.
The assault occurred at 10:27 a.m., Tuesday, after Lee toured the construction site of a new airport on Busan’s Gadeok Island. He is now recovering in an intensive care unit after undergoing emergency surgery at Seoul National University Hospital.
At around 9:40 p.m. on the same day, a message was posted on a social media platform threatening to kill Han Dong-hoon, the interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) during his scheduled visit to Gwangju on Thursday. The individual who uploaded the post was apprehended by police at 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
Due to security concerns, enhanced protective measures are slated to be put in place for Han during his upcoming visit to Gwangju.
The incidents are raising concerns about the safety of political figures, especially with the general elections less than 100 days away.
As a result, security measures for politicians, including party leaders, are under review.
Typically, politicians, excluding presidential candidates, do not have dedicated police security teams assigned to protect them. Specialized protection teams are only assembled during the official election campaign period to ensure the safety of politicians.
Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, is transferred to a hospital following an attack by a knife-wielding assailant during a visit to Busan, Tuesday. Newsis
During Lee's visit to Busan, the police deployed 41 officers to the area, with a specific focus on addressing potential incidents, managing crowds, and handling traffic, according to the police.
However, the police drew criticism for failing to stop the attack.
The police explained that Lee was not subject to dedicated security measures as it was not an official campaign period for the general elections.
To address concerns leading up to the general elections, Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the National Police Agency (NPA), announced plans to enhance protection for key political figures, aiming to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.
The NPA intends to create a specialized protection team to ensure comprehensive preparedness for potential contingencies. This involves establishing a task force dedicated to ensuring the safety of key politicians, including party leaders.
The protection team is expected to consist of one to three units with 60 to 180 personnel each.
Additionally, as a component of their security strategy, the police plan to enact safety measures for visits by prominent figures to specific jurisdictions. This includes setting up a dedicated hotline in collaboration with political parties. Coordination will fall under the direction of police commanders, including the chief of the jurisdiction, who will supervise the deployment of officers to proactively mitigate potential risks at the site.
Normally, protection teams are activated during the official election campaign period, starting 14 days before the election day. However, in the aftermath of the attack on Lee, the NPA has chosen to implement the system ahead of the usual schedule.
Despite these measures, preventing assailants, who may disguise themselves as supporters, remains another challenge.
The assailant who attacked Lee acted like his supporter, approaching the politician for an autograph.
“Security measures must strike a delicate balance, avoiding interference with election campaigns or political party activities,” an official at the NPA said.
Recognizing the importance of open communication between politicians and the public, an NPA official said political parties and law enforcement authorities are holding talks to define the specific scope of security measures.
Despite these efforts, some argue that establishing a permanent system to address this issue may not be feasible.
“Under the existing system, accusations of inadequate protection for politicians cannot be directed at the police. Also, steps have been outlined to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future,” said Oh Yoon-sung, a police administration professor at Soonchunhyang University.
Reporters gather outside a real estate agency, run by the man who stabbed main opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung, in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, as police officers conduct a search, Wednesday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency conducted a search, armed with a warrant from the Busan District Court, at the residence of the suspect involved in Lee's attack, as well as the real estate agency under his management.
Based on the confiscated data, police will look into the attacker's motive and whether the crime was premeditated, while exploring the potential involvement of accomplices.