Police Issue 'Gapho Emergency' on General Election Day... Strengthening Order Maintenance Security

70,000 Personnel Deployed for Polling and Vote Counting Station Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] On the 15th, the police will deploy about 70,000 personnel for security and safety activities to maintain order at the polling and counting stations for the 21st National Assembly election. They plan to respond strictly to illegal acts such as disturbances and assaults inside the polling stations.

According to the National Police Agency on the 14th, the highest emergency level, "Gapho Emergency," will be declared at police stations nationwide on election day. When Gapho Emergency is declared, all police officers' leave is suspended, and 100% of available personnel can be mobilized.

In addition, the police plan to deploy a total of 70,138 personnel for managing polling and counting stations and transporting ballot boxes. They will assign 28,660 personnel to 14,330 polling stations to conduct hourly 112 patrols, and if disturbances occur, they will enter the polling stations upon request from the election commission to maintain order.

After voting ends, when transporting ballot boxes to the counting stations, two armed police officers carrying pistols, stun guns, and gas sprayers will be assigned per route. Furthermore, 12,318 police officers will support smooth vote counting at 251 counting stations nationwide.

Investigation of election-related crimes will continue even after voting. The police define the "five major election crimes" as ▲bribery in elections ▲false election statements ▲illegal campaigning ▲illegal group mobilization ▲election violence, and are focusing on cracking down on these. Election campaigning on the day of the general election may be subject to investigation for violating the Public Official Election Act. A police official stated, "Throughout the entire investigation process of election crimes, we will strictly maintain neutrality and thoroughly comply with legal procedures to ensure a fair and clean election."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.