By Yi Whan-woo
The Cabinet approved a plan, Tuesday, to extend the maximum period of protection offered to former presidents and their spouses by the presidential security office to 20 years, up from the current 15 years.
The revision was approved after being submitted to a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. It is subject to National Assembly endorsement to take effect as a law.
The current law on presidential security states that presidents and their spouses can receive security service and protection for 10 years after they leave office. They can request an additional five years if they need to do so due to their age and other reasons.
“The proposal is aimed at treating the former presidents in a more respectful manner,” a government official said.
Among those who may receive the extended protection period should it become the law, are Lee Hee-ho and Kwon Yang-sook, the widows of the late former presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun as well as former President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yoon-ok.
Former President Park Geun-hye, who is detained and undergoing a trial over an influence-peddling scandal, will be subject to the possible new service if she is released.
The law states that a president who leaves office before their five-year term ends should be provided with protection for five years and an additional five years if necessary. Park was ousted in March.
Meanwhile, the proposal requires security officers to be responsible for people’s safety and take relevant measures in addition to their duties with former presidents and their spouses in the case of a terrorist attack or other incident.
“This is to minimize the inconvenience for citizens when security officers are on duty,” the official said.