Instructions of Emergency Plans for Public Offices

As terrorist attacks in Iraq and Turkey, presumably conducted by terrorist group Al Qaeda, continue, the government has sent out emergency plans to major public offices in case of terror attacks.

The administrative office said on Sunday, “There needs to be a thorough counter-plan in case the terrorist threats such as suicide bombings on the Korean Assembly in Afghanistan by Al Qaeda is realized,” revealing that it sent out “contingency plans for public offices in terrorist attacks and other catastrophes” to the central governmental building and also to major departments and ministers.

According to the contingency plan, the responsible departmental officer will immediately become the head officer under a terrorist attack or other emergencies and create an emergency headquarter, designate a safety officer in charge of each section or floor of its organization and ensure that the officers carry out secure inspections in preparation for terrorist attacks.

In addition, the administrative department is required to perform a thorough check with a metal detector in places where it is possible that explosives could be set up. Also, the administrative department must perform thorough inspections on suspicious behaviors.

Meanwhile, the police have heightened security on England and Turkey’s diplomatic machineries in Korea.

The police department assigned groups of 20 people to combat police to the U.K. Assembly in Seoul Jung-gu--its official residence, the cultural center, the Turkey Assembly in Seobinggo-dong Yongsan-gu and its official residence in Hannam-dong. Also, it ordered increased rounds of inspections for the neighboring patrol polices – the former police boxes.

The police also ordered intense inspections on cars parked for lengthy periods near the U.K. and Turkey Assemblies, as well as the monitoring of foreigner-driven cars and movements of loitering Islamic foreigners.

Jong-Hoon Lee Heon-Jin Lee taylor55@donga.com mungchii@donga.com