South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southern city of Busan on Tuesday and was airlifted to a university hospital for treatment, party and fire officials said.
The attacker, reported to be a man in his 50s or 60s wearing a paper crown bearing Lee’s name, approached Lee among a crowd of supporters and reporters. Pretending to ask for an autograph, the attacker suddenly lunged forward, as captured in video footage of the incident.
Despite the presence of approximately two dozen police officers at the scene, the attacker managed to strike Lee before being subdued by a group that included law enforcement officials.
Motives Remain Unclear
The motives behind the attack remain unclear as the assailant is not cooperating with authorities, according to sources. Video clips on the social media platform X depicted the attack, wherein the assailant lunged at Lee, causing him to grimace and collapse to the ground. Photographs from the scene showed Lee lying on the ground, receiving assistance with a handkerchief pressed against the side of his of his bleeding neck.
President Yoon Suk Yeol Condemns Attack
President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned the assault, calling it an ‘unforgivable act’. He expressed deep concern for Lee’s well-being and instructed that the best medical care be provided to ensure a swift recovery.
Lee Jae-myung’s Background
Lee, a former governor of Gyeonggi province, narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol. Presently, Lee is facing trial over alleged bribery linked to a development project during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam, near Seoul. Lee has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as “fiction” and a “political conspiracy.”
History of Political Violence in South Korea
Although there are strict restrictions on gun possession, South Korea has a history of political violence involving other weapons. There is police presence at major events involving high-profile political leaders but they are not normally under close security protection.
Lee’s predecessor, Song Young-gil, was attacked in 2022 at a public event by an assailant who swung a blunt object against his head, causing a laceration.
Then conservative opposition party leader Park Geun-hye, who later served as president, was attacked at an event in 2006 with a knife and suffered a gash on her faced that required surgery.
In 2015, then U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was attacked by an assailant while attending a public event, suffering a large gash on his face.