South Korea raises terror alert level ahead of June 3 local elections

South Korea has decided to raise its terror alert level by one notch ahead of the upcoming June 3 local elections, as part of enhanced counterterrorism measures, officials said on May 20.

The alert will be elevated to the second-lowest level of “caution” on a four-tier scale and will remain in effect nationwide from May 21 until June 4, according to the Office for Government Policy Coordination, Yonhap reports.

The measure aims to preemptively prevent potential terrorist threats targeting campaign venues and election candidates during the electoral period.

Authorities said relevant agencies will strengthen security operations, including increased policing and patrols at key election sites and multi-use public facilities.

The government also plans to enhance inter-agency coordination to ensure a rapid response capability in case of any security incidents, with the objective of ensuring the elections proceed safely and without disruption.

By Sabina Mammadli