Just over a week following an assassination attempt, South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been discharged from a hospital in Seoul.

A New Era of Political “Respect and Coexistence”

Addressing reporters outside Seoul National University Hospital, the leader of the Democratic Party expressed his hope that this incident would mark the beginning of a new era of mutual political respect and coexistence. Lee emphasized that it could serve as a significant milestone in putting an end to the politics of hatred and confrontation that have plagued South Korean society in recent years.

The Attack and Lee’s Recovery

The assassination attempt took place on January 2, during a meeting between Lee and reporters at the construction site of a new airport in the southeastern port city of Busan. The assailant, donning a paper crown with Lee’s name printed on it, approached him and requested an autograph. Disturbing videos circulated online capturing the moments before the attack, showing Lee smiling shortly before the assailant plunged a large knife into the left side of his neck.

Lee received immediate medical attention at the scene before being rushed to Pusan National University Hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital, where he underwent a two-hour surgical procedure to repair the jugular vein in his neck, successfully stabilizing his condition.

The Suspected Attacker and Motive

The suspected attacker has been identified as a 67-year-old man named Kim. According to police investigations, Kim’s motive was to prevent Lee from being elected as president in 2027 and hinder his party from securing a majority of seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Lee, a liberal lawmaker, narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol and is considered a leading candidate to succeed President Yoon once his single term ends.

Authorities also revealed that the suspect harbored frustration over the prolonged delay in bringing Lee to trial on corruption-related charges, including those associated with a property development scandal. Lee vehemently denies these charges, considering them to be politically motivated.

Charges and Political Violence in South Korea

The suspected attacker has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the assault on Lee.

Political violence in South Korea has been relatively uncommon in recent decades, although sporadic attacks have occurred. In 2022, Song Young-gil, the then-leader of the Democratic Party, was targeted by an elderly man wielding a hammer while campaigning just two days before the election. Similarly, in 2006, former conservative party leader Park Geun-hye, who later became president, was attacked by a man brandishing a box cutter at a rally in Seoul. It is worth mentioning that Park Chung-hee, the country’s authoritarian president, was assassinated in 1979 by the chief of the national intelligence agency.

Some information for this report has been sourced from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.