BUSAN, South Korea – Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party, was the victim of a stabbing attack by an unidentified assailant during his visit to the city of Busan. The 59-year-old politician was stabbed in the neck during his visit, but was quickly flown to a hospital in Seoul for emergency treatment. He underwent a two-hour surgery and is currently recovering in an intensive care unit at the Seoul National University Hospital.
The attack occurred as Lee was walking through a crowd of journalists and supporters after touring the proposed site of a new airport in Busan. The attacker requested an autograph before stabbing Lee in the left side of his neck, according to a senior police officer. Fortunately, Democratic Party officials were able to subdue the attacker before police detained him. The suspect, believed to be in his late 60s, admitted to buying the 7-inch knife online, but authorities are still determining the motive behind the attack.
Videos circulated on social media showed the suspect wearing a paper crown that read “I’m Lee Jae-myung,” possibly in an attempt to pose as a supporter. The Democratic Party referred to the stabbing as “a terrorist attack on Lee and a serious threat to democracy,” urging police to conduct a thorough and swift investigation. Despite the severity of the attack, police and emergency officials confirmed that Lee remained conscious and was not in critical condition after the incident.
Following the attack, President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed deep concern about Lee’s health and ordered authorities to investigate the violence. Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election, has been a vocal critic of Yoon’s policies and faces a number of corruption allegations. However, the attack on the opposition leader has sparked concerns about the safety of high-profile figures in South Korea, as similar incidents have occurred in recent years.
In 2015, then-U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was slashed in the face and arm by an anti-American activist, requiring 80 stitches to close the cut on his face. Additionally, in 2015, conservative opposition leader Park Geun-hye was knifed by a man with a box cutter during an election rally, receiving 60 stitches to close an 4-inch gash on her face. These incidents raise questions about the security of political figures in South Korea and the potential risks they face in carrying out their duties.