Table of Contents
The suspect detained shortly after the attack
Immediately following the attack on opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, the police swiftly detained the suspect, who confessed to trying to harm Lee. Although the suspect claimed to have planned the attack alone, his motive remains unknown.
The assault occurred while Lee was interacting with reporters after inspecting a potential location for a new airport in Busan. The attacker, posing as a supporter, asked for an autograph before unexpectedly using a 7-inch knife to harm Lee.
Lee, flown to Seoul National University Hospital for surgery, is now in the intensive care unit after a successful two-hour surgery. The suspect, about 67 years old, was apprehended by the police, who have conducted a search at his residence and office in Asan.
Authorities are considering seeking a formal arrest warrant for the suspect on charges of attempted murder. The police, however, have provided limited details about the suspect, mentioning only that he purchased the knife online, and they are withholding information about his office in Asan.
Who is Lee Jae-Myung?
Lee Jae-Myung, aged 59, is a prominent political figure in South Korea and the leader of the opposition. He is known for his strong liberal views and straightforward communication style. In the 2022 presidential election, he narrowly lost to President Yoon Suk Yeol by just 0.7 percentage points, making it the closest margin in South Korea’s election history. Despite this setback, recent public surveys position him as one of the top early favorites for the next presidential election in 2027. His political journey has contributed to the existing political dynamics in South Korea, especially the conservative-liberal divide.
What actually happened with the opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung?
On Tuesday, Lee Jae-myung, a political leader in South Korea, got hurt when someone stabbed him in the neck during his visit to Busan, a city in the south. This happened while he, the head of the Democratic Party, was checking out a location suggested for a new airport, according to information from Yonhap news agency.
Shortly after the assault, Lee was taken to a nearby university hospital. Reports from a party official and a fire department representative, both speaking to Reuters, indicated that Lee remained conscious throughout the incident. YTN television shared that the attack resulted in a small 1 cm cut on Lee’s neck.
The attacker, described as a man in his 50s or 60s wearing a paper crown featuring Lee’s name, approached him by pretending to seek an autograph before carrying out the attack. Fortunately, the man was quickly restrained and apprehended at the scene, as confirmed by Yonhap.
Video clips capturing the event, aired on YTN television and circulated on social media, displayed the assailant suddenly rushing towards Lee, leading him to fall to the ground. Pictures from news sources illustrated Lee lying on the ground, while onlookers were seen using a handkerchief to apply pressure to his neck.
During a New Year gathering that brought together top officials, politicians, and regular citizens on Wednesday, Yoon expressed his hope for Lee’s swift recovery. He strongly condemned the attack on Lee, labeling it as a “terrorist attack” that is detrimental to all of us and poses a threat to liberal democracy, as per his office. It’s worth noting that Lee was initially expected to be present at this meeting.
It’s important to highlight that Lee has been openly critical of Yoon. In the previous year, he went on a hunger strike for 24 days to protest against Yoon’s key policies. This included his disagreement with Yoon’s stance on Japan’s release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which Lee strongly opposed.
Lee has been dealing with a long investigation by prosecutors about various corruption claims. He says he didn’t do anything wrong, and he accuses Yoon’s government of going after him for political reasons.
