2 January 2024, 02:08 GMTUpdated 32 mins agoImage caption, Lee Jae-myung used to be stabbed within the neck, however his accidents aren’t life-threatening, clinical group of workers saySouth Korea’s opposition chief Lee Jae-myung has been stabbed within the neck all over a consult with to town of Busan.Mr Lee, who narrowly misplaced the 2022 presidential election, sustained a 1cm laceration at the left aspect of his neck, studies stated. He used to be airlifted to medical institution. Docs say the wound isn’t life-threatening.The 66-year-old guy who attacked him stated he had supposed to kill Mr Lee, Yonhap information company reported. The purpose for the assault is unclear.The brazen daylight hours assault stunned the country and triggered condemnation from political events and politicians, together with present President Yoon Suk Yeol.Mr Lee, who leads the Democratic Celebration of Korea, used to be addressing newshounds at a information convention all over a consult with to a development web page within the port of Busan on Tuesday morning when the stabbing came about.The attacker reportedly approached him to invite for an autograph, ahead of abruptly lunging ahead to stab him. The weapon used to be an 18cm (7in) knife which the attacker stated he purchased on-line, police stated at a media briefing. The attacker used to be in an instant overpowered and arrested.Prosecutors plan to carry tried homicide fees towards the person, Yonhap stated. Movies of the assault posted on social media display Mr Lee first collapsing into the gang after which onto the bottom, whilst a number of folks attempt to restrain the attacker. Pictures after the incident display Mr Lee mendacity at the flooring along with his eyes closed as any individual presses a handkerchief to the aspect of his neck.Video caption, Watch the instant Lee Jae-myung is stabbed all over a press conferenceA spokesman for Mr Lee’s birthday celebration stated clinical group of workers suspected damage to his jugular vein, which carries blood from the top to the center. Mr Lee must go through surgical treatment as they had been enthusiastic about additional bleeding, the spokesman, Kwon Chil-seung, stated.”After being transferred to Seoul Nationwide College Sanatorium, we plan to function briefly. We strongly condemn the assault and imagine it a transparent act of democracy destruction,” he stated.Mr Lee, 59, recently holds a seat in Incheon in South Korea’s legislature. He’s broadly anticipated to run for a seat within the subsequent common election, which can happen in April.He narrowly misplaced the 2022 presidential elections – by way of an insignificant 0.73% distinction in votes – to Mr Yoon, making it the nearest presidential race in South Korean historical past. He’s broadly anticipated to face within the subsequent presidential elections in 2027.Since shedding the vote, he has been indicted on corruption and breach of accept as true with fees, with prosecutors accusing him of permitting non-public builders to benefit illegally from a assets undertaking whilst he used to be mayor of Seongnam, a town of one million folks to the south of Seoul. Mr Lee has denied the ones fees, calling them politically motivated. In September a courtroom disregarded a request from the prosecution for him to be held in custody whilst he awaited trial at the fees. Prosecutors are nonetheless investigating him on a lot of different circumstances related to corruption whilst he used to be in place of work.The courtroom’s order got here 3 weeks after Mr Lee staged a starvation strike to protest at Mr Yoon’s overseas and home insurance policies. Mr Lee required medical institution remedy after now not consuming for 19 days.Symbol caption, South Korea’s opposition chief Lee Jae myung addressing newshounds in Busan in a while ahead of he used to be stabbedSouth Korea’s crime price is normally low, despite the fact that the rustic noticed a upward push in mass stabbing assaults remaining 12 months. The rustic has strict laws round ownership of weapons and different guns, and maximum public figures aren’t in most cases below tight safety coverage. There were a lot of earlier circumstances of South Korean politicians being bodily attacked with guns.In March 2022, Mr Lee’s predecessor as Democratic Celebration chief, Tune Younger-gil, used to be attacked with a blunt object whilst campaigning for Mr Lee. He sustained a laceration.In 2006, conservative birthday celebration chief Park Geun-hye, who later was president, used to be attacked with a knife which left a scar on her face.In 1979, her father Park Chung-hee, who used to be president for 16 years, used to be shot and killed by way of his secret agent leader at a non-public dinner.Further reporting by way of Jake Kwon in Seoul
