Seoul Police Chief: "Gapho Emergency in Effect from Election Day Until New President Arrives at Office"

The police will mobilize all available personnel for duties related to the 21st presidential election, including protecting the president-elect and securing polling stations on election day.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Hyunsoo, acting commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated at a regular press briefing on June 2, "We will issue the highest-level police emergency alert, known as Gapho Emergency, starting at 6 a.m. on June 3, the day of the election." He added, "We plan to maintain heightened security until the new president is inaugurated and arrives at the office the following day." Gapho Emergency is the highest level of police security posture, requiring all police officers nationwide to be on emergency duty.

On election day, a total of 10,800 officers will be deployed to 4,574 polling and ballot-counting stations to prevent any controversy over election fraud. At 2,285 polling stations, 4,500 officers?two per station?will be assigned for patrols in coordination with the 112 emergency system, and 4,500 armed officers will be stationed for the transport of ballot boxes. At 25 ballot-counting centers, 1,200 officers will be present on site. In four regions?Mapo, Dongdaemun, Yeongdeungpo, and Gangnam?one riot police unit per area will be deployed to maintain order.

The police also plan to thoroughly respond to election-related crimes. Acting Commissioner Park stated, "We are currently investigating 481 cases involving 595 individuals related to presidential election crimes." He continued, "Among the five major types of election crimes, such as bribery and illegal group mobilization, we have referred nine individuals to prosecution in the course of investigating 101 cases involving 185 people. In addition, for crimes such as the destruction of posters, we have apprehended 350 individuals and handed over eight to the prosecution." He added, "We are also investigating eight cases related to threats to kill presidential candidates."

Acting Commissioner Park said, "We have received 12 reports regarding 'no-shows,' where individuals impersonate party officials to reserve accommodations and then fail to appear. The Criminal Investigation Unit plans to investigate these cases."