In a tragic incident, South Korea’s Opposition Leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-Myung was stabbed in the neck during his visit to Busan early on Tuesday. There is a fear of massive bleeding and currently, he has been airlifted to Seoul for emergency treatment. The airlift was only possible because the wound caused was not life-threatening. Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential elections, was stabbed by a man who was among the moving crowd of supporters and journalists at a public event while he was answering questions from the reporters.
Lee’s Party Spokesman Kwon Chil-Seung stated that medical staff suspected that there might be damage to a jugular vein which supplies blood from the head to the heart. Thus, there is a concern that there could be a possibility of a large hemorrhage or additional hemorrhage, as stated by the medical staff.
The CCTV footage that has gone viral from the incident shows that the assailant approached Lee wearing a paper crown with his name on it and asked for the Opposition leader’s autograph. Seconds later, Lee lunged forward and attacked him by stabbing Lee in the neck.
The Busan police official, Son Je-Han stated that he has not yet identified the suspect and neither the motive of the suspect has been clear. According to local media, the police will seek the charge of attempted murder against the assailant.
South Korean President Condemns
The brutal stabbing incident has been condemned by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol who stated that such kind of violence must never be tolerated under any circumstances.
Notably, Lee had narrowly lost to conservative Yoon in the 2022 presidential elections and has been leading the Opposition party since August 2022. The Opposition leader is currently under trial for an alleged bribery case in a development project when he was the mayor of Seongnam. Lee has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
Political Violence in the Country
South Korea has a history of political violence, although there are stricter laws on gun possession. However, during public events, though there is the presence of police, the political leaders are not kept under close security protection.
In the year 2022, Lee’s predecessor Song Young-Gill was attacked by an assailant, who brutally attacked him in the head, causing a laceration. While Park Geun-Hye, former South Korean president was stabbed during an event in 2006. Hye suffered a deep and long wound on her face that required surgery.
Park Geun’s father, Park Chung-Hee, who was the President for 16 years after acquiring power in a military coup, was shot and killed by a spy chief in 1979 at a private dinner.
These previous incidents, along with today’s incident indicate that South Korea has a troubling history of political violence and political leaders must be protected by providing them close security protection.
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