By Yi Whan-woo



Korea is using state-of-the art technology for the security of international VIPs invited to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to the organizing committee, Wednesday.



A team led by Joon Young-hoon, head of the Presidential Security Service, is in charge of the safety and protection of 26 top foreign dignitaries including presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens from 21 countries.



They will be subject to heavy escort once they arrive here. Each VIP will be exclusively assigned a car, the location of which will be updated in real time in a situation room.



The security team will also rely on 1,070 surveillance cameras set up around airports, train stations, roads, stadia and other facilities on the way to PyeongChang to better locate the VIPs.



"The monitoring equipment is connected with the National Intelligence Service as well as the police and military so that we can interact with them as well," a security official said on condition of anonymity.



The security team will fly drones mounted with high-definition observation cameras and also thermal imaging cameras to offer better escorts.



This will be the first time that the drones will be used for the security of international VIPs, another official said.



The drones will especially be used to search for signs of terrorist attacks and possible threats posed against the guests, while keeping the VIPs' drivers updated about heavily trafficked roads and areas where protests are expected to take place.



"The performance of the drones has been proven through test runs," the official said, adding they will save the number of personnel who otherwise would be needed to search "blind spots" for better security.



To prevent wiretapping, hacking, hidden cameras and other spy activities, security teams have electromagnetic field detectors and other relevant devices.



The online networks for automatic control of buildings for fire protection, electricity and elevators will be under 24-hour monitoring so that they can be protected from malware such as viruses, Trojan horses and ransomware.



The airports, Winter Olympics stadia and lodgings of the VIPs will be subject to chemical, biological, and radiological defense.



"We are using both conventional and sophisticated methods to ensure the safety of guests and a safe Winter Games," a third official said.



The 26 VIPs include U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Han Zheng, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Monaco‘s Prince Albert II.

