Sniper scare or political show? Liberal candidate dons body armor on campaign trail

Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, wears a blue jacket over a bulletproof vest during a campaign rally in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Bulletproof vests are not typical attire for politicians on the campaign trail in Korea, where private firearm ownership is allowed only under limited conditions.

Despite this, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has been wearing a 3-kilogram bulletproof vest beneath his jacket during campaign rallies.

At a rally in the southeastern port city of Ulsan on Tuesday, elite police units conducted a security sweep of the venue using explosive detectors and sniffer dogs. During Lee’s speech, a tightly controlled perimeter was established around the stage to prevent unauthorized access to the 61-year-old candidate. Lee also exercised caution, minimizing physical contact with the crowd.

The heightened security comes after the DPK’s claim that a sniper rifle with a 2-kilometer range has been smuggled into the country as part of a suspected assassination plot targeting Lee. The party cited anonymous tip-offs, claiming that several other threats were received.

Private gun ownership in Korea is restricted to licensed hunters, competitive athletes in shooting sports and a handful of professional fields.

The DPK plans to install bulletproof glass at outdoor rallies and has requested assistance from the presidential security service for strengthened security.

“These individuals who provided the tip-offs are former intelligence operatives or worked in related fields. This is not something we can take lightly,” Rep. Park Ju-min of the DPK said during a radio interview on Thursday.

Park lamented that election campaigns should be a "celebration of democracy," not events where candidates should worry about their safety.

Lee Jae-myung, then the Democratic Party of Korea chairman, lies on the ground after being attacked with a knife while visiting a proposed airport site in Busan, Jan. 2, 2024. Yonhap

Assassination threats are not new to Lee, who survived a stabbing attack during a visit to Busan in January 2024 by a man disguised as a supporter. The attacker later told police he had planned the assault with the intent to kill the liberal politician.

According to the DPK, the police are investigating seven cases related to alleged online murder threats against Lee.

"We are continuing to respond to persistent concerns about possible assassination attempts targeting presidential candidates," the National Police Agency said.

The agency, responsible for candidate security during rallies, has reportedly acquired high-end detection devices and surveillance gadgets for potential drone or sniper attacks. Police officers have also been stationed on rooftops, in nearby buildings and along major routes near campaign venues.

Lee’s supporters are also taking their own precautions.

They have been showing up to his rallies with blue balloons — the DPK’s signature color — and hand mirrors to disrupt potential sniper operations against Lee. They are also encouraging each other to photograph building rooftops where attackers might be positioned.

Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party, second from left, wearing a bulletproof vest, speaks during a National Assembly session, Wednesday. Yonhap

But the rival conservative People Power Party (PPP) dismissed the DPK’s concerns as a mere political stunt.

Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek of the PPP mocked the situation by wearing a bulletproof vest to a National Assembly session Wednesday.

"Lately, candidate Lee Jae-myung has been wearing the vest based on some strange tip suggesting there might be something like an improvised explosive device planted at a campaign site,” Kwak said. "No one is trying to harm him, but he’s creating a false narrative portraying himself as a victim by wearing that vest."

Rep. Na Kyung-won, co-chair of the PPP’s election committee, viewed the DPK’s concerns as exaggerated.

Citing data submitted to her from the National Police Agency, Na pointed out that there had been no official reports or complaints filed regarding threats to Lee's safety.

"The investigative authorities must thoroughly verify the credibility of the tips Lee received. If they turn out to be false, those responsible must be held accountable for deceiving the public," she said.