Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader and former presidential candidate in South Korea, was stabbed in the neck on January 2nd during a campaign event in the city of Busan. Lee was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery to repair damage to his jugular vein. As of January 4th, he has left the ICU and is recovering from the attack.
The Attack
Lee Jae-myung was attending a campaign event for the Busan mayoral race when a man approached him claiming he wanted an autograph. The man, identified only as Kim, then pulled out a knife and stabbed Lee in the neck in front of horrified onlookers.
Witnesses say Kim was wearing a golden crown and shouted something about stopping Lee from becoming president as he stabbed the opposition leader. He was quickly restrained by security guards as Lee collapsed to the ground clutching his neck.
Lee was rushed to the hospital and directly into surgery where doctors worked to repair his damaged jugular vein. The knife came within 0.5cm of severing the vein, which likely would have been fatal. Lee required hundreds of stitches to close the 5cm long gash.
Lee’s Condition and Recovery
Doctors characterized the wounds as “life-threatening” and said thatLee narrowly escaped death.
After surgery, Lee was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition. On January 4th, his condition had improved enough that he left the ICU.
His surgeon said that Lee will likely fully recover physically, but complete recovery may take months and leave some scarring on his neck. Mentally and emotionally the attack may have longer lasting effects.
The Attacker
The man who stabbed Lee has been identified only by his last name, Kim. He is in his 50s and was wielding a folding knife with a 8cm long blade when he attacked Lee.
After stabbing Lee, Kim was quickly restrained by security guards and police. He has told investigators that he attacked Lee to prevent him from becoming president.
Kim reportedly has a history of mental illness and has expressed far-right political beliefs on social media. Police raided his home and found a workshop where he made golden crowns similar to the one he wore during the attack.
Prosecutors plan to charge Kim with attempted homicide/murder once the investigation concludes. If convicted he faces 10+ years in prison.
Security Concerns
The brazen attack on such a high profile opposition figure has raised concerns about security practices. Korea has a history of attacks on political figures. Former president Park Geun-hye was nearly assassinated in 2006, and multiple attacks have targeted other officials.
But security experts note that violent attacks have overall been on the decline. They characterize this latest attack as a random act by someone perhaps with mental issues, rather than a coordinated assassination plot.
Nonetheless, security for politicians and candidates has been increased. There are calls to strengthen protection details and improve screening at public events. New digital threats against politicians have also put security agencies on high alert.
Impact on Politics
As the attack was unrelated to politics and the work of an apparently deranged individual, most analysts do not expect it to drastically impact the political sphere.
Nonetheless, it caps off a tumultuous several years for Lee Jae-myung and the opposition party. Lee lost the 2022 presidential election by a narrow margin after being the early front runner. He hoped to rebuild momentum with mayoral and parliamentary campaigns this year.
| Election | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Presidential Election | 2022 | Lost by 0.73% |
| Busan Mayor Race | 2023 | TBD |
| Parliamentary Election | 2024 | TBD |
While sympathy towards Lee may provide a small boost for the opposition party, the attack is unlikely to significantly sway electoral outcomes. Voters still largely disapprove of the opposition’s economic policies. Lee will focus on recovery in the short term before potentially ramping up campaigning later this year.
What’s Next
In the short term, Lee Jae-myung will continue recovering in the hospital for at least the next week. Doctors want to monitor for any complications like infection before discharging him. Afterwards he will need to limit activities while regaining strength.
Prosecutors will continue investigating Kim and build a legal case against him for attempted murder charges. Kim will undergo psychological evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
On the political front, other opposition party leaders may temporary take on more prominent campaign roles while Lee recovers. But he is still expected to resume an active position by summer.
Security agencies have pledged a top to bottom review of protection details for all major politicians. Expect increased security screenings at rallies and campaign events in the future.
While the attack shocked the nation, South Korea has weathered political crises before. The overall stability of the political system remains intact. Lee Jae-myung’s long term prognosis looks positive, both physically and politically. But the damage done – both literally and figuratively – will not be forgotten soon.
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