In an unprecedented move for South Korean elections, presidential hopeful Lee Jae-myung wears a bulletproof vest during his campaign following a near-fatal stabbing, amidst reports of increasing threats against him.
South Korea's Presidential Race Heightens: Candidate Escalates Security Measures
South Korea's Presidential Race Heightens: Candidate Escalates Security Measures
Lee Jae-myung dons a bulletproof vest amid growing threats in an unforgettable campaign.
In an era of heightened political tensions, Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner for South Korea's presidency and leader of the Democratic Party, has elected to enhance his security measures dramatically as he kicks off his campaign. Clad in a white bulletproof vest and often delivering speeches behind bulletproof glass, his approach marks an uncommon precedent in the historically peaceful landscape of South Korean elections.
Lee's decision to wear a bulletproof vest during public appearances comes after a harrowing incident last January when he survived a stabbing while engaged with supporters. The attack, coinciding with a growing trend of political polarization, has made personal safety a priority for the candidate. During one campaign speech, supporters voiced their concerns, urging him to stay behind the protective barrier of glass for his own safety.
The National Police Agency recently reported an uptick in online threats targeting Lee, with a minimum of twelve threats documented, one of which has already been submitted to prosecutors for further investigation. “Threat levels for this election have surpassed those seen previously,” noted Professor Yoon Taeyoung from Kyungnam University, who specializes in political crisis management.
Violence against political figures, while uncommon in South Korea, has not been absent from history—high-profile figures have faced threats in the past. In a grim reminder, former President Park Geun-hye, who endured a knife attack in 2006, and her father, Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated during a dinner in 1979, serve as cautionary tales. More recently, in 2022, Song Young-gil, the prior head of the Democratic Party, narrowly escaped a hammer assault.
As the country gears up for the upcoming elections, the atmosphere surrounding Lee and the political climate in South Korea seems to be shifting, calling for vigilance in an evolving campaign landscape.
