The Democratic Party of Korea asked police to investigate, saying that indications of a plotted terror attack targeting Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae had been raised ahead of the June 3 local elections.
On the 17th, senior spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun of the Democratic Party of Korea held an emergency press conference and said, "We have been receiving successive tips that collective terror plotting is taking place in unidentified social media group chats, with phrases such as 'Let's kill Jung Chung-rae' and 'Recruiting a Jung Chung-rae assassination squad.'"
Kang added, "Yesterday, at the party level, we requested a swift investigation from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency along with thorough personal protection," and said, "Not only terrorism but even plotting terrorism alone is a serious crime."
Kang also said, "If this terror plotting causes leader Jung Chung-rae to scale back activities, it is political violence and intimidation that harms the future of the Republic of Korea," adding, "The act of making someone hold back due to fear itself is a serious obstruction of election campaigning."
Regarding the tips, senior spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "There are parts that have been confirmed to some extent, but the specifics will emerge as we watch the investigation process," and noted, "Given the nature of using IDs, it is difficult to conclude that it is a particular region or group."
As for releasing the evidence materials, Kang said, "At this point, it is difficult to make them public even in a mosaic form."
Meanwhile, it was reported that leader Jung Chung-rae plans to keep to the schedule on the 17th, attending the opening of the campaign office for the National Assembly candidate for Gunsan-si, Gimje-si and Buan-gun in North Jeolla Province, and the May 18 eve festival.