Police to Drastically Advance Protection for Ruling and Opposition Party Leaders... Urgent Response to Jeong Cheong-rae Terror Plot Reports

Early Protection Measures Activated Following 'Assassination Squad Recruitment' Reports
Democratic Party Requests Investigation After National Assembly Press Conference

The police have detected indications of an organized terror plot targeting Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, and have decided to significantly advance the timing of personal protection measures for key party leaders, including Jeong and Jang Dong-hyuk of the People Power Party. With intelligence on threats against politicians received even before the official election campaign period, security authorities in government offices appear to be on high alert.

Jeong Cheong-rae, Representative and Chief Standing Election Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea (center), attended the opening ceremony of the election campaign office for Park Ji-won, Democratic Party candidate for the National Assembly by-election in Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan, Jeonbuk, on the 17th. He is taking a commemorative photo with candidate Park and Lee Won-taek, candidate for Governor of Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province. Yonhap News Agency.

According to the National Police Agency on May 17, the authorities formally received an urgent request from the Democratic Party the previous day for personal protection of Jeong Cheong-rae, and are closely coordinating the timing and scope of security measures with the ruling party. The police had originally planned to deploy dedicated personal protection teams for major party leaders from both sides starting on May 21, when the official election campaign begins. However, following multiple specific reports of terror plots targeting Jeong, the police have shifted to a rapid implementation of early protection measures, including for Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, in consideration of the urgency of the matter.

Earlier in the day, the Democratic Party held an emergency briefing at the National Assembly's press center, publicly revealing details of the terror plot against Jeong and requesting thorough investigation and security cooperation from the police. Kang Jun-hyun, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, stated at the press conference, "We have received concrete reports that group conspiracy to inflict harm is underway, with unidentified social media group chats created under extreme slogans such as 'Let's kill Jeong Cheong-rae' or 'Recruitment of Jeong Cheong-rae assassination squad.'

Upon receiving the case, the National Police Agency immediately launched an investigation. The police assigned the case related to Jeong to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul, which has jurisdiction, and have commenced full-scale legal proceedings. The investigation team is known to be tracking the creation route and IP addresses of the social media group chats where the terror conspiracy was organized.

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