The leader of the South Korean opposition party, Lee Jae-myung, was attacked during a meeting with journalists while visiting the coastal city of Busan today, Tuesday, according to Yonhap News Agency. A video shared on social media showed the moment of the stabbing, with Lee lying on the ground. The agency reported, "Lee fell, bleeding, after being attacked on the left side of his neck by an unidentified man."
The incident occurred "during a meeting with journalists after inspecting the new Gadeokdo Airport site in Busan." The agency posted an image showing the politician on the ground with his wound covered by a handkerchief. It also added that Lee was taken to a hospital following the stabbing, noting that the police arrested the assailant at the scene.
For his part, the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol condemned the attack on opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung as unacceptable. Yoon emphasized that "our society must never tolerate such acts of violence under any circumstances."
Lee, a former factory worker, had suffered an industrial accident as a teenager who dropped out of school. However, his attempt to reach the presidency has been overshadowed by a series of scandals. Lee avoided arrest in September when a court denied a request for his temporary detention pending trial on various corruption charges. He is still facing trial on bribery charges related to a company suspected of illegally transferring $8 million to North Korea.
