The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
During a press conference in the southern city of Busan, South Korea’s main opposition party leader, Lee Jae-myung, was assaulted with a knife, leaving him bloodied but conscious, according to party officials.
The attack occurred while Lee was touring the construction site of the Gadeokdo New Airport and addressing reporters. Despite being struck on the left side of his neck, Lee remained conscious and was subsequently hospitalized.
Party official Hong Ik-pyo stated that Lee was “in a conscious state,” and a comprehensive assessment of his condition and treatment plan would take some time. Live footage of the incident showed an unidentified man suddenly attacking Lee, causing him to collapse. The attacker was swiftly restrained by onlookers.
Lee, 59, who narrowly lost the presidential election in March 2022, has been leading the Democratic Party and preparing for parliamentary elections in April. The attack prompted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to express deep concern for Lee’s safety, emphasizing that such violence should not be tolerated. President Yoon ordered a prompt police investigation into the incident.
The incident is viewed in the context of South Korea’s recent political polarization, which saw former President Park Geun-hye facing charges before being pardoned in 2021. The attack on Lee follows a pattern of political violence in the country, with his predecessor, Song Young-gil, also being attacked during a campaign event in 2022.
In response to the assault, Democratic Party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung labeled it an act of “terrorism” against Lee and deemed it a significant threat to democracy.
