South Korean opposition leader stabbed in autograph ambush
Lee Jae-myung's party claim 'terrorist incident an attack on democracy' but motive remains unclear
South Korea's main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been stabbed in the neck while touring a construction site in the port city of Busan.
A 67-year-old man was detained after attacking the Democratic Party leader with a 18cm knife on the pretence of asking for an autograph.
Lee was reportedly conscious and not critically injured in the attack. He was taken to a hospital in Busan, then flown to the capital Seoul by helicopter for treatment. He underwent a two-hour operation to remove blood clots and patch up a damaged jugular vein in his neck, Kwon Chil-seung, a spokesman for his party, said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Footage of the attack appears to show the assailant posing as one of Lee's supporters, wearing what appeared to be a paper or plastic crown, bearing the words "I am Lee Jae-myung". His party was quick to declare the incident "a terrorist attack on Lee and a serious threat to democracy", although the Yonhap news agency reported the assailant has so far refused to identify himself or say why he carried out the attack.
The liberal leader is "known for his outspoken style, with supporters seeing him as an anti-elitist crusader", said Sky News, "but critics view him as a populist who stokes divisions and demonises conservative rivals".
He narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon Suk-yeol and is currently on trial for alleged bribery related to a development project while mayor of Seongnam, a city near Seoul. He denies the charges and last year went on a three-week hunger strike, accusing the government of using the judicial system to intimidate opponents.
South Korea's politics have become "increasingly polarized in recent years, and rancor between Yoon's supporters and Lee's has been rising" with the approach of parliamentary elections in April, reported The New York Times. "But physical attacks on politicians have been uncommon."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is Cop29 a 'waste of time'?
Today's Big Question World leaders stay away as spectre of Donald Trump haunts flagship UN climate summit
By The Week UK Published
-
The rise of the celebrity chef tour
The Week Recommends Chefs and food writers are hosting sell-out live events around the world
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
'Thank you for your service'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Menendez brothers may go free in LA prosecutor plan
Speed Read Prosecutors are asking for the brothers to be resentenced for the 1989 murder of their parents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Abercrombie ex-CEO charged with sex crimes
Speed Read Mike Jeffries ran the brand during its heyday from 1992 to 2014
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea's deepfake porn crisis
The Explainer President Yoon Suk Yeol has announced a crackdown but is a wider issue being ignored?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Southport knife attack: third child dies of injuries
Speed Read Taylor Swift shares her condolences after young fans targeted at pop-themed dance class
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Hainault sword attack: police hunt for motive
Speed Read Mental health is key line of inquiry, as detectives prepare to interview suspect
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published