Maximum Security Planned for Pres. Bush’s Visit

A presidential security team will seek to provide maximum security for U.S. President George W. Bush over his two-day visit to Seoul from today.

A presidential office source in Seoul said, “Bush’s visit to Korea is the biggest diplomatic event since the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak. A series of candlelight rallies opposing Korea’s resumption of American beef imports have been held in central Seoul. Given that, we have put the security team on maximum alert.”

The Presidential Security Service mid-last month set up a security team just for Bush and team members have undergone tough training. They will team up with the U.S. Secret Service to conduct joint operations.

Security officials in Seoul have inspected Bush’s accommodations and routes and come up with contingency plans for each possible scenario.

The security service, which supervises its own agents and also police and other security forces, will consider every possibility of terrorist attack at Bush’s accommodations and the places he will visit.

Checks will be conducted on passers-by and food provided for the U.S. leader.

To deal with anti-U.S. protests and unexpected events, police will deploy 7,000 guards to protect Bush’s accommodations and routes and another 16,000 to hold off protesters.

A Seoul official said, “Police will mainly deal with outbreaks of protests and traffic control and the Presidential Security Service and the U.S. Secret Service will guard President Bush.”

swpark@donga.com