SEOUL – South Korean opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck on Tuesday while visiting the southern port city of Busan, Yonhap news agency reported.
According to Yonhap News, Lee was attacked by an unidentified man while touring a planned airport construction site.
The perpetrator is believed to be a man in his 50s or 60s. According to reports, the man approached Lee for an autograph and suddenly lunged forward and attacked him. According to Yonhap News, the perpetrator was quickly apprehended and arrested on the spot.
A video clip from YTN TV and another posted on X showed the attack, with a man lunging at Lee with his arms outstretched. Lee grimaced and fell to the ground.
News photos showed Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed while others pressed handkerchiefs to the side of his neck.
According to Yonhap News, Lee was taken to a hospital.
Although there are strict regulations on gun ownership, South Korea has a history of political violence involving other types of weapons.
Park Geun-hye, then a conservative opposition leader and later president, was attacked with a knife at an event in 2006 and suffered cuts to her face that required surgery.
