South Korean opposition politician Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck by an attacker on December 2.
South Korean opposition politician Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck by an attacker on January 2.The chairman of South Korea’s Democratic Party had been visiting the site of the Gadeokdo New Airport in the southern port city of Busan. After completing the tour in the morning, Lee found himself thronged by a crowd of people and the press when he was suddenly approached by a man ostensibly posing as a supporter.The man, wearing a headpiece that read “I’m Lee Jae-myung” according to eyewitnesses, appeared to want Lee’s autograph. But he suddenly lunged at the politician, stabbing him in the neck with what some reports claim was an 18 cm blade knife.The politician collapsed bleeding while people in the crowd overwhelmed the attacker. Images circulating on social media showed Lee being carried on a stretcher as he was transported first to Busan National University Hospital, and then airlifted to Seoul for surgery.Trauma doctors were quoted as saying the politician had sustained a neck laceration of at least 1 cm. Local news reports suggested the injury was not life-threatening.Lee’s attacker is under investigation for a possible charge of attempted murder. No details have yet been released about his motives.Sohn Jae-han, leading detective from the Busan Regional Police, said in a briefing that the perpetrator confessed he “tried to kill” Lee.“This incident is a terror attack to Representative Lee Jae-myung and a serious threat to democracy that should not happen under any circumstances,” Kwon stressed.Who is Lee Jae-myung?Lee Jae-myung is often touted as an example of a self-made success story. Born in 1964 in an impoverished family in the city of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, he was one of five sons and two daughters.
