SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - More than 6,000 armed police officers will be deployed in Seoul to escort ballot boxes and maintain security during South Korea’s snap presidential election on Jun. 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Wednesday.
The early election was triggered by the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April, following a Constitutional Court ruling. With the presidential term vacated, the country must elect a new leader within 60 days, as stipulated by the Constitution.
In a press briefing on May 28, police said around 6,200 officers will be placed near 426 early voting sites and 2,260 polling stations across the capital. Another 1,250 officers will be assigned to secure the outer perimeters of 25 ballot counting centers.
To ensure the safe return of ballots, a separate force of about 6,400 armed officers will accompany the transport of early, main, and absentee voting boxes. The move appears to be aimed at preventing disruptions and addressing lingering public concerns over vote-tampering.
“Because the next president’s term begins immediately after the election, we are preparing security based on past inaugurations,” a police official told reporters.
Authorities are also conducting safety checks at 72 key national facilities and 315 transport hubs considered vulnerable to potential threats. Police special forces will be on duty during the inauguration ceremony.
From May 29 to 30, the two days of early voting, police command and staff will remain within their respective districts. On election day, a top-tier emergency alert will be in place, mobilizing all available personnel until the conclusion of the new president’s inauguration.
As of May 28, Seoul police had investigated 369 election-related cases, involving a total of 480 people. Among them, 162 were related to the five major categories of election crime.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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