Lee Jae-myung, the South Korean opposition leader, was stabbed in the neck on Tuesday during a visit to the southern port city of Busan. The Democratic Party leader was taken to the hospital. One suspect was arrested at the scene.
The pictures show the 59-year-old Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed while bystanders press a handkerchief to the side of his neck.
The attack occurred while he was speaking to the press after a visit to an airport under construction. Lee was suddenly stabbed by someone who was walking right in front of him.
The perpetrator, perhaps in his 50s or 60s, was wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on his head. It is said that he asked for his signature immediately before the appeal. It is not clear what Lee was stabbed with.
According to the news agency Yonhap Lee was conscious when he was taken to the hospital, but was still bleeding. He is in the hospital. President Yeon Suk-yul condemned the attack.
Lee’s party and President Yoon’s conservative party are the two main parties in South Korea. Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon.
The opposition leader is currently on trial for corruption in a development project when he was mayor of Seongnam, a suburb of Seoul. Lee denies these allegations and speaks of a “political conspiracy against him.”
“Infuriatingly humble social media buff. Twitter advocate. Writer. Internet nerd.”