In Seoul : South Korea, the opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, was attacked on Tuesday while visiting the city of Busan. During the visit, an unidentified assailant stabbed him in the neck. Fortunately, officials confirmed that Lee’s injuries were not life-threatening. Despite the attack, Lee remained conscious, and there was reportedly minimal blood loss.
Lee was swiftly transported to Seoul National University Hospital via an airlift after the attack. According to reports from Lee’s party as cited by the Associated Press, he underwent a two-hour surgery and was in the intensive care unit for recovery.
Sohn Jae-han, the head detective from the Busan Regional Police, announced in a news briefing on Tuesday that a male suspect in his 60s from south Chungcheong province was in custody. The police intend to charge the suspect with “attempted murder” as he confessed to attempting to kill Lee using a 7-inch-long knife he carried during the assault.
The suspect approached Lee, pretending to ask for an autograph, but suddenly stabbed him in the left side of his neck. Fortunately, Lee’s security team quickly restrained the attacker.
Later reports on Tuesday mentioned that the police plan to officially arrest the suspect for attempted murder.
Assailant Attacks South Korea Leader
Photographs depicted Lee on the ground, surrounded by people. In the images, someone can be seen applying pressure to Lee’s neck, while another shows him being carried on a stretcher, wearing what seems to be a neck brace.
A police official, speaking to NBC News, described the wound as less than half an inch long. Kwon Chil-seung, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a briefing, “Doctors suspect that (the party chairman) may have sustained jugular vein damages.”
He continued, “We strongly condemn this act of terror. It’s a blatant attempt to undermine democracy.
President Orders Attack Investigation
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol directed police and officials to investigate the attack on Lee and ensure he gets top-notch care, as mentioned by a presidential spokesperson.
The spokesperson highlighted the president’s strong stance against violence, emphasizing zero tolerance for any form of it. The attack reportedly took place while Lee was visiting a new airport construction site in Busan, according to emergency officials cited by The Associated Press.
As of now, the suspect remains unidentified, and authorities haven’t disclosed further details about the attack.
South Korea Political Incidents
Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon by just 0.7 percentage points, marking South Korea’s tightest election margin. Despite facing corruption allegations, Lee denies any legal misconduct and accuses Yoon’s administration of a political vendetta.
In a separate incident in 2022, Lee’s predecessor, Song Young-gil, was attacked by an individual wielding a hammer-like object.
Recalling past incidents, in 2015, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was assaulted with a knife, and in 2006, conservative party leader Park Geun-hye was stabbed at an event, undergoing subsequent surgeries.
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