The Korean police will activate "Gap-ho" emergency alert, the highest level of emergency duty system, on June 3, the main voting day of the 9th nationwide local elections, deploying forces to guard polling and counting stations, escort ballot boxes, and ensure candidate safety. About 65,000 police officers will be mobilized on election day.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on Tuesday, the police plan to mobilize a total of 65,369 officers to conduct security and safety operations at 14,288 polling stations and 258 counting stations nationwide on the main voting day of the local elections. Mobile units and regional preventive patrol units will be operated separately.
The police will issue the Gap-ho alert at police stations nationwide from 6 a.m. when voting begins until vote counting ends. Under the alert, all officers' annual leave will be suspended, and commanders and staff in security, intelligence, and investigation divisions will remain on standby at their assigned posts.
Security around polling stations will also be strengthened. The police plan to increase patrols around polling stations in coordination with 112 patrol cars and operate regional mobile units to respond to unexpected situations. An emergency communication system will be established between polling stations and police agencies to immediately respond to disturbances, clashes, or other unforeseen incidents.
Police forces will also be deployed during the ballot box transport process after voting ends. Two police officers will accompany election commission officials along each of the 14,544 transport routes nationwide. Additional personnel will be deployed to respond to any unexpected situations during the transport process.
Security at counting stations will also be significantly reinforced. The police will deploy an average of about 30 officers at each of the 258 counting stations nationwide, with the chief of the local police station directly commanding operations on site. The measures are designed to prevent various incidents such as disruption of vote counting, intrusion into facilities, and disturbances.
Protection of candidates and investigation of election crimes will also continue. "We will ensure the safety of candidates and issue the Gap-ho alert on election day to thoroughly secure ballot boxes and counting stations," Park Jung-bo, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday. "We will do our best to ensure that citizens can safely exercise their right to vote." He added, "Even after the election ends, we will investigate those who committed election crimes to hold them fully accountable."
