Post-Shinzo Abe Shooting: South Korea Tightens Security, Including Ahead Of The LGBTQ Parade Planned For US Ambassador To Attend Weekend

JAKARTA - South Korea has stepped up security for high-profile figures following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week, including for a planned LGBTQ parade that the US ambassador will attend this weekend, officials said Tuesday.

This follows last week, after a small group of protesters demonstrated outside the US Embassy, when Philip Goldberg, newly appointed US Ambassador to South Korea, arrived in the country, accusing the United States of "homosexual cultural imperialism".

The Seoul Presidential Security Service said it would strengthen security measures for President Yoon Suk-yeol, while the National Police Agency has ordered the regional branch to step up monitoring to guard key figures.

"We are reviewing our security system for the president after the shooting of Abe, will take the necessary steps to strengthen our security posture", an official in the presidential body told Reuters as reported on July 12.

Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead last Friday during a campaign speech in Nara City, ahead of upper house elections to be held two days later.

Police are also gearing up for the Seoul Queer Culture Festival on Saturday. In addition to US Ambassador Goldberg, other envoys to the country are expected to attend.

"We are planning to tighten security because there are several risk factors with the opposition groups also holding a rally at the same time", said a police officer.

Homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea and public acceptance of LGBTQ relationships is growing. However, human rights activists say many LGBTQ people still suffer from hate crimes and face discrimination, including job loss and hate speech.

It is known that the security of the US Ambassador in Seoul has been a source of controversy. In 2015, a South Korean man slashed the face of then-US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert with a fruit knife at a forum, leaving a deep cut on his face that required 80 stitches.

While in 2019, as many as 20 protesters climbed the wall into the US ambassador's housing complex, the second illegal entry there in just over a year. Police stepped up security at the site after the US State Department publicly complained.