South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae Myung injured in knife attack
The attack took place at a construction site in the port city of Busan in the south of the country. Lee had just been surrounded by journalists when the attacker fought his way through the crowd and attacked the politician. As an eyewitness reported on local TV station YTN, Lee was "on his way to his car and talking to reporters when the attacker asked him for an autograph before slashing him in the neck with what looked like a knife".
TV footage showed Lee collapsing, people rushing to his aid and a cloth being pressed to his neck. The 59-year-old was first taken to a hospital in Busan and then flown to a clinic in the capital Seoul. According to the party, he was operated on there for two hours. The attack had damaged his jugular vein. However, Lee was conscious after the operation and is "recovering in intensive care" from the procedure.
The attacker was subdued and arrested by police officers and bystanders immediately after the attack. According to a police spokesman, he was a man around 60 years old. He had used "an 18-centimetre-long knife with a 13-centimetre-long blade".
The police spokesman did not provide any information about the possible motives for the crime. According to the Yonhap news agency, the man said during initial questioning that he had wanted to kill Lee. He is to be charged with attempted murder.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, against whom Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election, was shocked and expressed his "deep concern". Society should "not tolerate this kind of violence under any circumstances", said the conservative president according to his spokesperson.
On his path to political success, 59-year-old Lee has repeatedly highlighted his life story and his background as a former child laborer in a factory and a young school dropout. According to the latest polls, he is considered a promising candidate for the presidential election in 2027.
However, Lee's bid for the top office has been overshadowed by a series of scandals. In September, he narrowly escaped arrest in connection with various corruption allegations. In addition, the opposition politician is to stand trial for bribery in connection with a company suspected of having illegally transferred eight million dollars to North Korea.
Politicians have already been the target of several physical attacks in South Korea. In 2022, Lee's predecessor as head of the Democratic Party, Song Young Gil, was hit on the head with an object by an elderly man. In 2006, then Conservative Party leader Park Geun Hye, who later became the country's president, was attacked with a knife at a rally. The attack left a scar on her face.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- Fireworks and parties ring in 2024 - turn of the year overshadowed by conflicts
- Attacks on ships in the Red Sea: shipping companies avoid important trade route
- Houthi rebels want to launch further attacks despite international coalition
- The attack on Lee Jae-myung, the South Korean Opposition leader, occurred in Busan, where he was surrounded by journalists before being attacked with a knife.
- The incident took place at a construction site in the south of the country, and Lee was talking to reporters when the attacker asked for an autograph before injuring him.
- After the attack, Lee was taken to a hospital in Busan and then flown to a clinic in Seoul for surgery to repair damage to his jugular vein.
- The attacker, a man around 60 years old, used an 18-centimeter-long knife with a 13-centimeter-long blade in the assault.
- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who lost to Lee in the 2022 presidential election, expressed his deep concern over the violent attack and called for society to not tolerate such acts.
- Despite facing a series of scandals, including corruption allegations and bribery charges, Lee is still considered a promising candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
- Physical attacks on politicians in South Korea are not uncommon, with earlier incidents involving Lee's predecessor and Conservative Party leader Park Geun Hye, who was attacked with a knife at a rally.
Source: www.stern.de
