Security Alert for Presidential Candidates

Candidate Protection During Election Campaign

There has been more concern about escorting presidential candidates such as Lee Myung-bak, the presidential hopeful of the Grand National Party, who was hit with an egg Monday during the middle of his election campaign as well as the escorting car of Rhee In-je, the Democratic Party’s candidate, being in a traffic accident. Lee Hoi-chang, an independent presidential hopeful, also was hit by an egg and was threatened to be assassinated with an air gun last month.

Lee Myung-bak was hit in the chest and waist by an egg thrown by a Seo (54) wearing a monk’s costume while he was getting into his campaign car at a crossroad in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi at 2:40 p.m. Lee continued campaigning after cleaning himself off and didn’t say anything about it. Mr. Seo was arrested by the police.

Lee’s camp had an escort team, which is comprised of 36 people including one with full responsibility who joined Monday, nine private secret service men, and 27 policemen. They have at least two years of experience and all are martial arts black belt holders. These bodyguards appear like in a scene from an action movie as they thoroughly protect GNP candidate Lee`s car as it’s moving, while holding onto the car until it reaches the average speed and then observe around the car.

Even though Lee tried wearing a bulletproof vest proposed by his security team under his outerwear right after beginning his campaign on November 27, it is said that he does not wear it except in massively crowded places, as some people have pointed out that he looks uncomfortable and inactive with it on.

The party of Lee Hoi-chang, who was also hit with an egg, is more sensitive about protection than any other camp. Lee’s camp raised the number of bodyguards from seven volunteers to 27 with the help of the police.

When former GNP chief Lee goes on campaign trips, four teams are organized, with three people going to the sites first and checking the situation while the remaining 15 people take responsibility for being on guard. Wherever his car goes, two cars follow closely in front of and behind the car. For emergencies, he has a bag filed with bulletproof clothes and a bulletproof umbrella.

The escort team of the United New Democratic Party’s hopeful Chung Dong-young, who is leading a “Hug Me” campaign, is concerned about unexpected accidents occurring such as voters who suddenly approach them on the presidential campaign trail. The team consists of about 30 people who watch very carefully, especially when Chung makes contact with a drunk voter.

Chung makes it more difficult for his bodyguards to escort him as he takes the subway and not a car when he goes to nearby spots to see voters. He made his guards nervous in the afternoon of November 30 by continuously hugging citizens who were headed home after work at the Dongdaemun Stadium Station.

Moon Kook-hyun of the Creative Korea Party, Kwon Young-ghil of the Democratic Labor Party, Lee In-je of the Democratic Party, and Shim Dae-pyung of the People First Party are also campaigning with about 10 security staff provided by the police.