In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation, South Korea‘s opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the city of Busan on Tuesday morning. The assailant, a 66-year-old man, approached Mr. Lee under the guise of seeking an autograph before lunging at him with an 18cm knife purchased online. The brazen daytime attack, captured on social media, has left the country in disbelief.
Reports indicate that Mr. Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election, sustained a 1cm laceration on the left side of his neck. He was airlifted to the hospital, where doctors have assured the public that the wound is not life-threatening. The attacker expressed his intent to kill Mr. Lee, and while the motive remains unclear, prosecutors plan to bring attempted murder charges against the assailant.
The incident unfolded during a news conference at a construction site in the port of Busan. Videos circulating on social media show Mr. Lee collapsing into the crowd and then onto the ground, as bystanders worked to restrain the attacker. Photographs taken after the assault depict Mr. Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed while medical personnel attend to his injuries.
The attack prompted swift condemnation from political parties and politicians, including current President Yoon Suk Yeol. President Yoon emphasized that South Korea “should not tolerate such acts of violence under any circumstance.”
Mr. Lee, the 59-year-old leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been a prominent figure in South Korean politics. Despite his working-class roots and a history of civil rights advocacy, he narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to President Yoon by a mere 0.73% difference in votes, marking the closest presidential race in South Korean history.
Since the election, Mr. Lee has faced legal challenges, including corruption and breach of trust charges related to a property project during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam. He vehemently denies these charges, dismissing them as politically motivated.
The incident in Busan is not the first time South Korean politicians have faced physical attacks. In March 2022, Mr. Lee’s predecessor as Democratic Party leader, Song Young-Gil, was attacked while campaigning. In 2006, conservative party leader Park Geun-hye, who later became president, was attacked with a knife, leaving a scar on her face. Tragically, in 1979, President Park Chung-hee was shot and killed by his spy chief during a private dinner.
South Korea’s crime rate is generally low, and the country has strict regulations regarding the possession of weapons. However, there has been a rise in mass stabbing attacks in recent years.
While Mr. Lee recovers from this shocking assault, the nation watches closely, awaiting further details on the motive behind the attack and the legal proceedings against the assailant. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by public figures in South Korea’s political landscape.
BREAKING: South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been stabbed in the neck
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Photo Credit: CBS News
