Acting President and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho speaks at the economic security meeting in Seoul at the Seoul Government Complex on Wednesday. (Yohap)
Acting President and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho speaks at the economic security meeting in Seoul at the Seoul Government Complex on Wednesday. (Yohap)

Acting President Lee Ju-ho ordered top-level security for presidential candidates Sunday as the official campaigning period kicks off this week.

Lee instructed the National Police Agency to go all-in on protecting candidates during the 22-day campaigning period that begins Monday ahead of the June 3 election, according to his office.

"Elections are the foundation of democracy, and any threat to a candidate cannot be tolerated," he was quoted as saying, stressing the need to mobilize all available resources to provide top-level security, given what he described as deepening social conflict. (Yonhap)