South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-Myung is hospitalized in an intensive care unit after going through surgery for internal jugular vein reconstruction on Tuesday, officials said. Only one person a day can visit the patient, therefore no further information about his health status is available, but he is conscious, according to Democratic Party officials.
While walking with a group of reporters answering questions, the attacker approached Lee and stabbed him in the neck. Lee then collapsed on the ground. The moment was caught on video. Police confirmed that Lee suffered a wound that was about one centimeter wide.
Police briefed journalists on Tuesday, saying the suspect is a man born in 1957, adding that the exact circumstances of the attack are currently under investigation. The weapon allegedly used by the suspect is about 18 cm long and was purchased through the Internet, police said. President Yoon Suk-yeol won the presidency over Lee in the 2022 general election.
