- South Korean ruling party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin was attacked in Seoul and suffered lacerations to his head with a rock-like object.
- The incident occurred in southern Seoul, and the suspect was arrested on the spot by Apgujeong-gu police.
- The incident has raised concerns about the polarization of South Korean politics following the recent stabbing death of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung.
A member of South Korea's ruling party was attacked in the head with a rock-like object by an unidentified man on Thursday and was treated for lacerations at a Seoul hospital, South Korean police and fire officials said on Thursday.
Police officials in Apgujeong-gu, Seoul announced that the suspect in the attack on Rep. Bae Hyun-jin in southern Seoul was arrested at the scene.
The attack comes weeks after a man stabbed opposition leader Lee Jae-myung in the neck in the southern city of Busan, raising further concerns about the country's highly polarized politics.
South Korean opposition leader stabbed in neck during visit to Busan
South Korean media reported, citing Bae's aides, that the suspect approached Bae, asked if he was really a lawmaker, and then hit him with something like a rock. A call to Bae's office was not immediately answered.
Representative Bae Hyun-jin of the People's Power Party speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on May 31, 2023. South Korean police said Hyun Jin was being treated at a hospital in Seoul after being attacked by an unidentified man and hitting his head with a stone. Something like an object. (Ko Bumjoon/via Newsis AP)
Bae, a former TV newscaster, was elected in 2020 and is seen as a close ally of President Yoon Seok-yeol.
Park Sook Kue, a neurosurgeon at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, said Bae suffered minor injuries such as abrasions and cuts to his head, but was hospitalized in stable condition.
Park said the impact of the attack caused Bae to fall on the back of his head, but there were no signs of a concussion or internal bleeding.
“Fortunately, the bleeding was not that serious,'' Park said at a press conference. “She has a headache and after being upset by her seizure, she is showing a little anxiety.”
South Korean police search house of suspect who stabbed opposition leader Lee Jae-myung
The man who attacked opposition leader Lee told investigators after his arrest that he wanted to kill him to prevent him from becoming president in the future. Lee was discharged from the hospital after eight days of treatment.
Lee said of the attack on Bae, “My wounds are hurting again after this unbelievable incident,'' and called it an “act of political terrorism'' that must not be tolerated.
“A thorough and decisive response is necessary. I wish Rep. Bae a speedy recovery and my heart goes out to her family,” Lee said in a statement.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People's Power Party, called for a thorough investigation and “severe punishment” for the attackers.
Tae Yong-ho, also a member of the People's Power Party, said the attack was a “serious challenge” to South Korea's democracy.
“The politics of hatred, anger and violence must end,” Thae, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, said in a Facebook post.
