South Korean police carried out raids on Wednesday at the residence and office of the assailant who stabbed the country's opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, in the neck, resulting in Lee being hospitalized in an intensive care unit. The attack took place as Lee was passing through a crowd of journalists in Busan after inspecting a proposed airport site. The attacker, posing as a supporter, approached Lee for an autograph before brandishing an 18-centimeter knife.
Lee, who underwent a successful two-hour surgery at Seoul National University Hospital, remains in intensive care for recovery. The suspect, a 67-year-old man who purchased the climbing knife online, was immediately detained by police after the assault. The suspect claimed he acted alone but did not reveal his motive.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Busan police searched the suspect's residence and office in the city of Asan. The police plan to seek a formal arrest warrant for the suspect on charges of attempted murder. Despite limited information about the assailant, reports indicate he operated a real estate office in Asan.
Lee, a 59-year-old liberal politician, lost the 2022 presidential election to President Yoon Suk Yeol by a narrow margin. Their closely contested race and subsequent political disputes between their supporters have exacerbated South Korea's conservative-liberal divide. Recent polls suggest Lee is a top contender for the 2027 presidential election.
President Yoon condemned the assault on Lee as a "terrorist attack" during a New Year meeting, expressing the wish for Lee's swift recovery. Lee, a vocal critic of Yoon, has faced a prolonged investigation on corruption allegations, which he attributes to a political vendetta by Yoon's government. The opposition leader has been engaged in various protests against Yoon's policies, including a hunger strike in opposition to Japan's handling of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
