Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, receives protection equivalent to the Prime Minister

On the 27th, the ruling Democratic Party officially elected Lee Jae-myung as the presidential candidate for the 21st presidential election, which means he will receive enhanced security compared to before.

According to reports from the political sphere and the police on the 27th, presidential candidates from major political parties are provided with police protection at the 'Eul-ho' level, which is equivalent to that of the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice, and the President of the Constitutional Court.

Candidate Lee Jae-myung has already been under personal protection since last March.

He requested police protection after receiving a tip-off via text that there was a plan to assassinate him using a Russian-made handgun.

For security reasons, the number of personnel and specific methods involved in the protection have not been disclosed.

Increased security personnel expected due to recent political tensions

Notably, there has been an increase in extreme political actions and threats of terrorism targeting politicians, particularly highlighted by the recent riot incident at the Seoul Western District Court.

Considering this social atmosphere, it is reported that the number of security personnel assigned to Lee Jae-myung is likely to be greater than during the last presidential election.

The police deployed a total of 150 security personnel during the last presidential election, with around 30 personnel specifically assigned to candidate Lee Jae-myung at that time.

A police official stated, "Given the current political and social atmosphere, there has been a suggestion for slightly strengthened security measures compared to the last election,” adding, “This was taken into consideration during the actual selection process for security personnel."

However, it has yet to be confirmed how many additional security personnel will be assigned.

The timing for the expansion of security measures is also flexible.

In principle, official security will begin after the candidate registration with the Central Election Management Commission on the 10th to 11th of next month, but if a candidate is confirmed through the primary elections, the start of security can be advanced through consultation with the police.

Image source: News1, January 2, 2024, Lee Jae-myung attacked by an assailant at the site of the new airport on Gadeokdo / News1, early morning on January 19, the scene of chaos at the Seoul Western District Court / News1