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NEW DELHI: South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader, Lee Jae-myung, was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southern port city of Busan. The attack occurred as Lee was touring the site of a proposed airport, leaving him with a 1 cm gash on his neck. The assailant, an unidentified man in his 50s or 60s, approached Lee under the guise of seeking an autograph before suddenly lunging forward to launch the attack.
The South Korean agency reported that Lee is conscious and has been transported to a local university hospital for medical attention.A party official and a fire department official have confirmed Lee’s condition. Video clips broadcast on YTN television and shared on social media captured the moment of the attack, showing the assailant approaching Lee with his arm stretched out, resulting in Lee collapsing to the ground.
The assailant was swiftly subdued and arrested at the scene, wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it, as depicted in news photographs. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
President’s condemns attack
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol promptly condemned the attack, describing it as an unacceptable act. He expressed deep concern for Lee’s well-being and instructed that the best care be provided for a speedy recovery. The president’s office emphasized the gravity of the incident, denouncing violence against political figures.
Lee Jae-myung, a former governor of Gyeonggi province, narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol. Currently leading the main opposition party since August 2022, Lee is facing a trial for alleged bribery related to a development project during his tenure as the mayor of Seongnam near Seoul. Lee vehemently denies any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as “fiction” and a “political conspiracy.”
The recent attack on Lee is not an isolated incident in South Korea’s political landscape. In 2022, Lee’s predecessor, Song Young-gil, was attacked at a public event with a blunt object, causing a laceration to his head. In 2006, Park Geun-hye, who later served as president, was attacked with a knife during an event, resulting in a facial gash that required surgery. Despite strict restrictions on gun possession, the country has a history of political violence involving other weapons.
The South Korean agency reported that Lee is conscious and has been transported to a local university hospital for medical attention.A party official and a fire department official have confirmed Lee’s condition. Video clips broadcast on YTN television and shared on social media captured the moment of the attack, showing the assailant approaching Lee with his arm stretched out, resulting in Lee collapsing to the ground.
The assailant was swiftly subdued and arrested at the scene, wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it, as depicted in news photographs. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
President’s condemns attack
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol promptly condemned the attack, describing it as an unacceptable act. He expressed deep concern for Lee’s well-being and instructed that the best care be provided for a speedy recovery. The president’s office emphasized the gravity of the incident, denouncing violence against political figures.
Lee Jae-myung, a former governor of Gyeonggi province, narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol. Currently leading the main opposition party since August 2022, Lee is facing a trial for alleged bribery related to a development project during his tenure as the mayor of Seongnam near Seoul. Lee vehemently denies any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as “fiction” and a “political conspiracy.”
The recent attack on Lee is not an isolated incident in South Korea’s political landscape. In 2022, Lee’s predecessor, Song Young-gil, was attacked at a public event with a blunt object, causing a laceration to his head. In 2006, Park Geun-hye, who later served as president, was attacked with a knife during an event, resulting in a facial gash that required surgery. Despite strict restrictions on gun possession, the country has a history of political violence involving other weapons.
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