Attack with stabbing weapon
South Korean opposition leader Lee injured in attack
South Korea’s opposition leader Lee Jae Myung (M) speaks at the construction site of a new airport. photo
© Sohn Hyung-joo/YONHAP/AP/dpa
The socially liberal politician Lee Jae Myung leads South Korea’s largest opposition party. He is at a public appearance when he is the victim of an attack.
South Korea’s opposition leader, former presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung was attacked and injured by a man with a stabbing weapon during a public appearance. Lee fell to the ground with a bleeding wound on his neck, South Korean broadcasters reported on Tuesday.
After first aid measures at the site of the attack in the southeastern coastal metropolis of Busan, he was taken to a hospital by helicopter. It was initially unclear how serious the injury was. According to reports from the national news agency Yonhap, the 59-year-old social liberal politician was conscious at the time of transport.
Television images showed how the suspected attacker was overpowered by several people shortly after the crime. The incident occurred as Lee was answering questions from journalists after visiting a construction site for a new airport on Gadeok Island. The island belongs to the port city of Busan.
The motives for the crime were initially unclear. According to reports, the attacker posed as a supporter of the head of the Democratic Party (DP). The man, aged around 60 or 70, approached the politician wanting an autograph when he suddenly attacked Lee with an initially unidentified stabbing weapon that was around 20 to 30 centimeters long.
Parliamentary election in April
President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed concern about Lee’s safety, according to his office. Yoon ordered a rapid investigation into the background of the attack. Such acts of violence could not be tolerated under any circumstances, it said. The incident occurred a few months before the scheduled general election in April.
In the presidential election two years ago, Lee was narrowly defeated by the right-wing conservative Yoon. At that time, Lee’s goal was to renew the politics of the heavily divided country. Among other things, he also campaigned for the introduction of an unconditional basic income.
Shortly before the election, the election campaign was overshadowed by an act of violence against Lee’s predecessor Song Young Gil as party leader of the DP. Song was hit on the head with a solid object by a man. Song survived but suffered injuries. In May 2006, then opposition leader and later president Park Geun Hye was injured in the face in a knife attack.