South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung remains in intensive care today, Wednesday, a day after being stabbed, shocking political leaders who are preparing to compete in major elections in three months. Surgeons operated on Lee for over two hours late Tuesday to repair a major blood vessel in his neck that was injured when an attacker lunged at him with a knife.
Hong Ik-pyo, leader of the Democratic Party's parliamentary bloc, stated at a party leadership meeting, "The terrorist act against President Lee Jae-myung was clearly a challenge to democracy and a threat to democracy." He called for a swift investigation and increased security measures for prominent political figures, reiterating concerns about the safety of election campaigns in a country with a history of political violence despite strict gun control laws.
Jin Jeong-hwa, a party supporter and eyewitness to the stabbing, said the incident clearly demonstrated the need for stronger professional security protection for political leaders, rather than just relying on the police assigned for monitoring.
Lee, a progressive known for his blunt speech, narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election and has been mobilizing party supporters to retain the parliamentary majority as they face off against conservatives led by President Yoon Suk-yeol. South Korea is set to hold crucial elections on April 10, where conservatives will attempt to regain the majority for the first time since 2016, supporting Yoon's business-friendly policies including tax cuts, deregulation, and social reform.
The attack on Lee shocked both his party and rivals, who condemned all acts of violence against political figures. President Yoon again denounced the attack, labeling it "terrorism" and stating, "It is an enemy of liberal democracy," according to his office. He also wished Lee a swift recovery.
Lee was airlifted from Busan, where the attack occurred, to Seoul on Tuesday, where he underwent surgery to reconstruct the jugular vein that pumps blood from the head to the heart and to insert a tube to support the damaged vein.
