In a startling incident on Tuesday, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea's opposition party, found himself at the receiving end of an attack during his visit to the bustling southern port city of Busan.
During a question and answer session with reporters, a 59-year-old politician was stabbed in the neck while touring the construction site of a new airport on Gadeok Island.
South Korean Opposition Chief Attacked in Busan
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 02: South Korea's presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party looks on before televised presidential debate for the forthcoming March 9 presidential election at KBS studio on March 02, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. On March 9, South Koreans will elect their next president. The two front-runners, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party, are locked in a tight contest.
In a video that has been widely circulated on social media, an incident unfolded as Lee, surrounded by a group of reporters, was making his way through the crowd. Suddenly, an unidentified man made a sudden and aggressive move towards Lee, brandishing a knife. Lee was captured lying on the ground, his eyes closed, while individuals nearby pressed a handkerchief against the side of his neck.
According to the Yonhap news agency, Lee has been transported to a hospital. The suspect was brought under control and later arrested at the scene.
Lee, the leader of the Democratic Party, was reported to be conscious and is currently being transported by air to Seoul National University in the capital city. This comes after he received emergency medical treatment at Pusan National University Hospital, according to a statement made by party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung.According to an official from an emergency agency, Lee was reportedly attacked while visiting the construction site of a new airport in the city.
In a shocking incident, a man in his 50s or 60s, wearing a paper crown decorated with Lee's name, reportedly approached Lee with a request for an autograph. However, the situation quickly took a violent turn as the assailant suddenly lunged at Lee, starting a vicious attack. The man was quickly caught and placed under arrest.
In a gripping display captured on television footage and a video clip shared on the social media platform X, a man was seen lunging forward with his arm fully extended, delivering a stabbing blow to Lee's neck. The sheer force of the attack propelled Lee backwards, causing him to collide with the crowd standing behind him.
In a series of gripping images captured by diligent journalists on the scene, the photographs depict the distressing moment when Lee, overcome by an unknown force, suddenly crumples to the ground. His eyes, tightly shut, betray the intensity of the situation as concerned individuals rush to his aid, urgently applying a handkerchief to the side of his neck.
Kwon, addressing reporters outside the hospital shortly after Lee was transported by helicopter, revealed that the medical personnel at Pusan National University Hospital have expressed concerns about potential damage to a jugular vein responsible for transporting blood from the head to the heart.
According to medical staff, there are concerns about the possibility of significant hemorrhage or further hemorrhage, as stated by the individual.According to an official from Pusan National University Hospital, the transfer to Seoul became feasible following a thorough evaluation by medical personnel. They concluded that the individual's condition was not life-threatening, taking into account the emergency treatment administered and the results of a CT scan.
In response to the incident, Lee's Democratic Party has labeled it as "a terrorist attack on Lee and a serious threat to democracy." The individual has requested that law enforcement conduct a thorough and expeditious investigation into the incident.
The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol has released a statement denouncing the attack, deeming it an unacceptable act. According to the president's office, the president has expressed deep concern for Lee and has urged that he be provided with the best care possible in order to facilitate a speedy recovery.
In a statement, the president underscored the importance of "not tolerating this particular type of violence in our society, regardless of the circumstances."
Who Is South Korean Opposition Leader Lee Jae-myung?
Lee, a former provincial governor with liberal leanings, suffered a defeat in the 2022 presidential election against President Yoon Suk-yeol. Renowned for his bold and unreserved manner, he is regarded by his followers as a champion against elitism, capable of revolutionizing the realm of politics, eliminating corruption, and addressing the escalating issue of economic inequality.
Per The Independent, critics perceive him as a perilous populist, employing tactics of fueling divisions and demonizing his conservative adversaries. In a high-profile case, Lee finds himself in the midst of a trial, facing charges of alleged bribery. The accusations are linked to a development project that took place during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam, a city located near Seoul.
In response to the allegations, Lee has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, categorizing the claims as "fiction" and a "political conspiracy". In a bold move, he embarked on a hunger strike to voice his dissent against the charges, alleging that the president was leveraging the criminal justice system as a means to intimidate those who opposed him politically.
Major events witness a notable police presence, while political leaders generally do not receive extensive security protection. South Korea, a country with upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for April, has a well-documented history of political violence. Lee's predecessor, Song Young-gil, fell victim to an attack in 2022. The assailant, wielding a blunt object, forcefully struck Mr. Song's head, resulting in a laceration.
In 2006, Park Geun-hye, the leader of the conservative opposition party who would later become president, was the victim of a stabbing incident during an event. As a result, she sustained a facial gash that necessitated surgical intervention.
Park Chung-hee, the former president of South Korea, met his untimely demise during a private dinner in 1979. Park, who had assumed power through a military coup and held the presidential position for an impressive 16 years, fell victim to a fatal gunshot wound inflicted by none other than his own disgruntled spy chief. The incident took place amidst an atmosphere of intoxication, adding to the shocking nature of the event.
In 2015, the former US ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, experienced an assault during his presence at a public event. As a result, he sustained a significant facial injury caused by an assailant.
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