Busan - Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate who narrowly lost the 2022 elections, experienced a stabbing incident on Tuesday morning when an assailant targeted the left side of his neck.
The attacker, apprehended at the scene, approached Mr. Lee under the guise of seeking an autograph before suddenly lunging forward to stab him. Videos circulating on social media depict Mr. Lee collapsing into the crowd and then onto the ground, with onlookers attempting to restrain the assailant. Post-incident photographs show Mr. Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed while someone applies a handkerchief to the side of his neck.
Reports indicate that Mr. Lee sustained a 1cm laceration and received treatment at the hospital while remaining conscious. Police have assured that his wound is not life-threatening. He was subsequently airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital in a helicopter.
A spokesman for Mr. Lee's Democratic Party of Korea revealed that Mr. Lee suffered a "jugular vein injury" and would undergo surgery due to concerns about further bleeding. The spokesman, Kwon Chil-seung, strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a blatant act of democracy destruction.
Lee Jae-myung, aged 59 and currently holding a legislative seat in Incheon, is widely expected to run in the upcoming general election in April. Despite his narrow defeat in the 2022 presidential elections, he is anticipated to participate in the 2027 presidential race.
Following the 2022 elections, Mr. Lee faced corruption and breach of trust charges related to a property project during his tenure as the mayor of Seongnam. He denies these charges, deeming them politically motivated. Although a court dismissed a request for custody, prosecutors are still investigating other corruption cases linked to his time in office.
This incident follows a history of violence against South Korean politicians, with notable cases including an attack on Mr. Lee's predecessor, Song Young-gil, in 2022, and a knife assault on conservative party leader Park Geun-hye in 2006.