A doctor in South Korea stated that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, has left intensive care and is recovering from surgery to repair a major vein severed in a stabbing attack two days ago. Professor Min Seong-ki, who performed the operation, noted in a press conference that Lee requires continuous monitoring as the injury to the jugular vein was difficult to treat and post-surgery complications cannot be ruled out. Min, from the vascular surgery unit at Seoul National University Hospital, said, "Fortunately, (Lee) is recovering well."
Lee was attacked in Busan by a man in his sixties who approached him among a crowd of supporters during a public event and stabbed him in the neck. The assailant was quickly subdued and arrested by the police. A court judge stated via phone that the Busan district court has issued an official arrest warrant for him, citing the seriousness of the charges and the likelihood of him fleeing.
The attack shocked the nation and was condemned by both Lee's party and his rivals. It raised renewed questions about the safety of prominent politicians given the country's history of political violence, despite strict gun control measures. Lee, a progressive lawyer known for his blunt rhetoric, leads the liberal opposition party that aims to maintain its parliamentary majority against the conservatives led by President Yoon Suk-yeol in the upcoming April elections.
