South Korea - Lee Jae-myung, South Korea opposition leader stabbed in Busan - Jan 2024

[JennieM]

5 minutes ago

The leader of South Korea's political opposition has been stabbed at a news conference during a visit to the southern port city of Busan, Yonhap news agency reports.

Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost last year's presidential elections, was stabbed on the left side of his neck on Tuesday, while he was taking questions from reporters.

The attacker was arrested at the scene.

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae myung

Lee Jae-myung: South Korea opposition leader stabbed in Busan.

Lee Jae-myung was attacked during a visit to Busan, Yonhap news agency reports.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is stabbed in the neck at a press conference in Busan​

• The 59-year-old politician had been touring the construction site of a new airport on Gadeok Island when he was stabbed in neck
• Video shared on social media shows Lee walking through a gaggle of reporters when an unidentified man lunges at him with a knife

South Korea's opposition party chief Lee Jae-myung was attacked during a visit to the southern port city of Busan on Tuesday.

The 59-year-old politician had been touring the construction site of a new airport on Gadeok Island when he was stabbed in neck during a question and answer session with reporters.

[…]

News photographs published showed Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed and hands of other people around him pressing a handkerchief against the side of his neck.

Lee has been transported to a hospital, Yonhap news agency said. It added that the assailant was subdued and arrested at the scene.

[…]

The attack took place as the politician toured the construction site of a new airport in Busan on January 2 (pictured)

South Korean opposition leader stabbed in the neck at press conference

The 59-year-old politician had been touring the construction site of a new airport on Gadeok Island when he was stabbed in neck during a question and answer session with reporters.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

[…]

Lee was stabbed on the left side of his neck with a weapon by an unidentified man, Yonhap said, adding that the assailant was subdued and arrested at the scene.

TV footage showed a man lunging at Lee and striking him in the neck with an object. Lee is then seen collapsing as people rush to aid him.

News photographs published showed Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed and other people around him pressing a handkerchief against the side of his neck.

Lee was conscious as he was taken to hospital, Yonhap said.

Chief of the Democratic Party, Lee lost to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol in a tight presidential race last year.

President Yoon called the attack on Lee “unacceptable”.

Although there are strict restrictions on gun possession, South Korea has a history of political violence involving other types of weapons.

[…]

This is a breaking news story, check back for updates

Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report

South Korea opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stabbed

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that Lee’s assailant had been arrested at the scene in the port city of Busan

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung recovering in ICU following stabbing​

South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is recovering in intensive care after being stabbed in the neck in an attack that shocked political leaders who were vying for the upper hand in a major election three months away.

Key points:​

• Lee Jae-myung is recovering after surgery to reconstruct his jugular vein
• The attack has sparked calls for tougher security for high-profile political figures
• Politicians have been warned not to make comments which could stoke more tensions

Surgeons operated on Mr Lee for more than two hours on Wednesday to repair a major blood vessel in his neck that was sliced when an assailant lunged and stabbed him with a knife in the city of Busan the day before.

"The act of terror against Chairman Lee Jae-myung was clearly a challenge against democracy and a threat against democracy," Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo said at a party leadership council meeting.

He urged a speedy investigation and tougher security for high-profile political figures, echoing renewed questions about their safety on campaign trails in a country with a history of political violence despite tight restrictions on gun ownership.

[…]

South Korean opposition leader recovering in ICU after being stabbed in the neck

The attack on the opposition leader has resulted in calls for tougher security for political leaders.

www.abc.net.au