Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea’s opposition party, was stabbed in the neck at a news conference in Busan.
Lee, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, sustained a laceration on the left side of his neck.
The 2022 South Korean presidential nominee was airlifted to the hospital, but his wound was reportedly not life-threatening.
“The 66-year-old man who attacked him said he had intended to kill Mr Lee, Yonhap news agency reported,” BBC wrote.
The motive for the attack is unclear.
WARNING – GRAPHIC VIDEO
Footage showing the Stabbing Attack earlier against the Leader of the Democratic Party of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung while he was Speaking to a Crowd in the Southeastern City of Busan. pic.twitter.com/uEAabsxzmX
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 2, 2024
South Korea’s opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been stabbed in the neck during a visit to Busan, police have said.
Warning: This video shows the moment of a stabbing.
Read more: https://t.co/xRGCRCsgSA pic.twitter.com/1gQFtHlUhn
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 2, 2024
Another angel of the stabbing attack on South Korea’s main opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung.
It looks bad.
He was stabbed in the throat with great force.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 2, 2024
BBC reports:
The brazen daytime attack shocked the nation and prompted condemnation from political parties and politicians, including current President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Mr Lee, who leads the Democratic Party of Korea, was addressing reporters at a news conference during a visit to a construction site in the port of Busan on Tuesday morning when the attacker reportedly approached him to ask for an autograph.
He then lunged forward to stab the politician with an 18cm (7in) knife which the attacker said he bought online, police said at a media briefing. The attacker was immediately overpowered and arrested.
Prosecutors plan to bring attempted murder charges against the man, Yonhap said.
Videos posted on social media show Mr Lee first collapsing into the crowd and then onto the ground, while several people try to restrain the attacker. Photographs after the incident show Mr Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed as someone presses a handkerchief to the side of his neck.
#BREAKING: Prominent politician in #SouthKorea recovering after stabbing at #political event. Our latest reporting on @CNNThisMorning @CNN with @yoonjung_seo pic.twitter.com/HOPFpofkI0
— Marc Stewart (@MarcReporting) January 2, 2024
From the Associated Press:
Videos circulated on social media showed the suspect, wearing a paper crown reading “I’m Lee Jae-myung,” in a possible attempt to pose as a supporter.
Sohn said the suspect, aged about 67, told investigators that he bought the 18-centimeter (7-inch) knife online. He said police are investigating the motive for the attack.
Other officers confirmed to The Associated Press that police are expected to request that the suspect be formally arrested for alleged attempted murder because he told investigators he intended to kill Lee.
Lee’s Democratic Party called the incident “a terrorist attack on Lee and a serious threat to democracy.” It called on police to make a through, swift investigation.
At the Seoul National University Hospital, party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung told reporters that Lee’s jugular vein was damaged and that he had a medical procedure called revascularization. Kwon cited the hospital, whose public affairs office refused to disclose Lee’s status, citing privacy rules.
Police and emergency officials earlier said Lee was conscious after the attack and wasn’t in critical condition.
President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed deep concern about Lee’s health and ordered authorities to investigate the attack, saying such violence would not be tolerated, according to Yoon’s office.
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