Opposition leader wearing bulletproof vest

Wearing a bulletproof vest and accompanied by security personnel, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, attended an outdoor gathering held by the party on Wednesday in Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, making his first public appearance following an alleged assassination plot.

Police began providing Lee with personal protection on Tuesday afternoon, following an official request from the Democratic Party. The event at Gwanghwamun was held under heightened security, with police and security personnel using surveillance equipment.

On March 12, the liberal party claimed it had received information that former special forces agents had smuggled Russian-made pistols into the country as part of a plot to assassinate Lee.

The Democratic Party chairman, who is leading in polls of potential presidential candidates, had previously skipped open-air events, including a weekend rally attended by many party members calling for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol to be removed from office.