Seoul: On Tuesday, South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader, Lee Jae-myung, was allegedly stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southern city of Busan. Lee, who scrutinizingly lost the 2022 presidential election, was attacked by an anonymous man while inspecting the proposed site for a new airport, according to fire officials and the party.
President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced the attack, describing it as an unpardonable act. The incident that took place is extremely shameful and heart-wrenching. Lee, a former governor of Gyeonggi province, is currently facing trial for purported bribery related to a development project during his tenure as a mayor of Seongnam. He has invariably denied any wrongdoing, stating the allegations as “fiction” and a “political conspiracy”.
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The attacker, a man nearly in his 50s wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it, approached Lee while he was among his supporters and reporters. The attacker at first asked for an autograph before instantaneously pouncing forward to stand Lee in the neck. Video footage showed the swift response of police officers and others at the scene. Lee sustained a 1 cm gouge on his neck and was quickly airlifted to Pusan National University Hospital for further treatment. The hospital has not officially assured the details of his injury.
This incident echoes prior acts of political violence in South Korea, such as the 2022 attack on Lee’s predecessor, Song Young-gil. South Korea has a history of political violence, often involving armour, although gun possession is strictly prohibited. Major events mostly involve high-profile political leaders. The motives behind the recent attack on Lee remain vague as the attacker is refusing to answer the police questions.
