Democratic Party to hold emergency meeting to discuss attack on leader Lee Jae-myung

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[Photograph by Yoo Dae-gil = [e-mail]]

SEOUL -- The main opposition Democratic Party will convene an emergency council meeting to discuss matters regarding the attempted murder of the party's leader, Lee Jae-myung. The opposition party will also provide information about the attack and the current health status of its leader after the meeting.

The attack on Lee Jae-myung occurred on January 2 when an assailant stabbed him in the neck with a knife during the party leader's visit to the site for a new airport on Gadeok Island, approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) southeast of Seoul. Before the incident, dozens of Democratic Party supporters had gathered at the airport site to see the prominent politician who competed against South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election.

Lee was conducting an on-site press meeting while walking at about 10:27 a.m. (0127 GMT) when Kim Jin-sung, a 67-year-old real estate dealer, approached the party leader with a hidden knife. Kim captured Lee's attention by repeatedly saying, "Please give me an autograph!" and attacked Lee with a single blow to the left side of his neck. Lee fell to the ground bleeding, and Kim was subdued by Democratic Party lawmakers, supporters, and police before being taken into custody.

About 20 minutes after the attack, Lee was transported to Busan University Hospital. According to doctors, Lee suffered damage to the carotid artery and experienced massive bleeding. However, he remained conscious during his emergency treatment at Busan University Hospital and was later airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul for further treatment.

In a statement on January 3, the main opposition party announced that its high council would hold a meeting to discuss matters regarding the attack on Lee. Following the meeting, the party will release information about the current status of the party leader, who was moved to an intensive care unit after surgery at Seoul National University Hospital.

The attack on the main opposition party leader occurred approximately three months before the scheduled General Election in April 2024.