[Photo] Police officers assigned to guarding ex-presidents to be withdrawn next year

Lee Chul-sung, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, announced during a press conference on May 21 that the national police is going to withdraw all of its troops assigned to security for ex-presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. Commissioner general Lee told reporters that 20 percent of the officers assigned to Chun and Roh’s security will be withdrawn within this year, and that a complete withdrawal will occur by next year. Both Chun and Roh have been assigned officers from the National Police Agency for personal security, and have officers stationed outside their residences at all hours of the day. A citizens’ petition to the Blue House requesting the officers’ withdrawal gathered over 11,000 signatures as of May 21.