The Cabinet approved a proposal Tuesday to extend the period of state security services for former presidents and their spouses to up to 20 years after they leave office from the current 15 years.
The current law provides that the Presidential Security Service provide security for former presidents and their spouses for 10 years after they leave office and up to an additional five years if they request it.
The new proposal calls for increasing the additional security service period to up to 10 years.
When those periods are over, police take over the security of the former leaders.
"We intend to strengthen the respectful treatment of former presidents and their spouses by extending the period of additional security from five years to 10 years," a government official said, elaborating on the reasoning behind the proposal.
After passing the Cabinet, the proposal will be sent to the National Assembly for approval.
Should it become law, the maximum security period for Lee Hee-ho, wife of late former President Kim Dae-jung; Kwon Yang-suk, wife of late former President Roh Moo-hyun; and former President Lee Myung-bak and his wife will be extended to up to 20 years.
Ousted former President Park Geun-hye will also be provided with state security services for up to 15 years if she is released from jail. The law states that a president who leaves office before a five-year term ends should be provided with security services for only five years and an additional five years if necessary.
