South Korea’s Democratic Party leader, Lee Jae-myung, was subject to a violent attack in Busan. During his tour of a proposed airport site, Lee was stabbed in the neck by an unidentified assailant.
Despite the severity of the incident, emergency treatment and CT scans confirmed that the injuries were not life-threatening. Lee was immediately airlifted to the Pusan National University Hospital in Seoul for further care.
The attacker believed to be in his 50s or 60s, wore a paper crown with Lee’s name and approached under the guise of asking for an autograph. Amidst a crowd of supporters and reporters, he lunged at Lee, resulting in a 1 cm gash on his neck. Despite the presence of around two dozen police officers, the attack occurred swiftly and was captured on video footage.
The assailant was quickly subdued and is currently in custody, although he has refused to disclose his motives.
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about political violence in South Korea. Despite strict gun possession laws, there have been several attacks on political figures, including Lee’s predecessor Song Young-gil and former President Park Geun-hye.
The lack of close security protection for political leaders during major events has been questioned. President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned the attack, emphasizing that such violence should never be tolerated. Lee Jae-myung, also facing a trial for alleged bribery, has been a significant figure in South Korean politics, particularly after narrowly losing the 2022 presidential election.
