Breaking: The leader of the South Korean opposition party was attacked and stabbed in the neck

South Korea’s outspoken liberal opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, was attacked and stabbed in the neck by an unknown assailant in Busan on Tuesday. The 59-year-old leader of the Democratic Party was airlifted to a hospital in Seoul for surgery following emergency treatment in Busan. Although he was conscious after the attack and not in a critical state, his exact condition remained unclear.

The incident occurred as Lee moved through a crowd following a tour of a proposed airport site in Busan. The assailant, pretending to seek an autograph, stabbed Lee on the left side of his neck. Busan police officer Sohn Jae-han reported that party officials quickly subdued the attacker, who was then detained by the police. About 41 officers were present for crowd control.

Television footage and witness accounts described the scene with Lee bleeding heavily. The attacker, seen in social media videos wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name, was tackled by several people, including undercover officers.

The attacker, around 67 years old, told authorities he purchased the 18-centimeter knife online. The police are investigating his motives.

The Democratic Party condemned the attack as a terrorist act and a grave threat to democracy, urging a thorough investigation. Party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung expressed concern about potential damage to Lee’s jugular vein and the extent of bleeding. Hospital officials, however, did not comment on Lee’s condition.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who narrowly defeated Lee in the 2022 presidential election, expressed deep concern and ordered a thorough investigation, emphasizing that such violence is intolerable.

Lee, a vocal critic of Yoon’s policies, has been at the forefront of opposition since his election loss. He protested Yoon’s administration’s decisions through actions like a 24-day hunger strike. Despite facing several corruption allegations, which he denies as politically motivated, Lee continues to be a prominent figure in South Korean politics.

This attack is part of a recent history of violence against high-profile individuals in South Korea, including assaults on Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil in 2022, U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert in 2015, and Park Geun-hye, then an opposition leader, in 2006.