Opposition Leader Lee Jae-myung Stabbed in Neck in Busan, January 2, 2024

Lugia · #1 ● 01-01-2024, 09:17 PM

Lee Jae-myung, then leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, was stabbed while visiting the Gadeok Island new airport construction site in Busan on January 2, 2024. Lee is now President of South Korea.

Kim Jin-sung approached Lee wearing a paper crown bearing the words "I'm Lee Jae-myung" and asked for an autograph before stabbing him in the left side of the neck with an 18-centimeter sashimi-type knife bought online. The wound damaged Lee's internal jugular vein. He was treated at a Busan hospital and then airlifted to Seoul, where he underwent about two hours of surgery that included vascular reconstruction. He was discharged on January 10 and called for an end to "the politics of hatred."

Police found that Kim acted alone. He said his aim was to prevent Lee from becoming president. Kim was convicted of attempted murder and violating the Public Official Election Act by obstructing an election campaign. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in July 2024. The Supreme Court upheld and finalized the sentence in February 2025.

**kellyhound** · #2 ● 01-02-2024, 04:19 PM

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was recovering in intensive care after he was stabbed in the neck on Tuesday by a man who pushed through a crowd pretending to be his supporter, his party said.

Lee was surrounded by journalists when a man lunged and struck him on the left side of his neck, Busan police official Son Je-han said at a press briefing.

Lee was first taken to a hospital in Busan, then flown to the capital Seoul where he underwent a two-hour surgery, Kwon Chil-seung of Lee’s Democratic Party told reporters.

“Damage to the internal jugular vein was confirmed,” Kwon said.

Lee was conscious after the surgery and is “currently admitted to the intensive care unit and is recovering”, Kwon added.

Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election and is on trial on bribery charges he denies, was attacked in the southern city of Busan while touring the site of a proposed new airport and speaking to journalists and supporters.

The suspect, wearing a paper crown with Lee's name on it, approached Lee, asked for an autograph and then lunged forward and stabbed him in the neck, video footage showed.

joos · #3 ● 01-02-2024, 11:11 PM

Couldn't have been that much damage to the jug, cuz he'd not be conscious. I'm going to guess he'll make it.

HIGHTECHDUDE · #4 ● 01-03-2024, 08:47 AM

Great job by his body guards... we should hire them to protect the POTUS.

Mr.NoCredit · #5 ● 01-03-2024, 12:10 PM

The man is so fortunate the knife didn’t cut his carotid artery.. he would have never made it into the ambulance before he was dead..

tricon7 · #6 ● 01-03-2024, 06:47 PM

If the attacker had wanted him dead, he should have stabbed him in the eye socket. The blade would have gone directly to the brain. What incompetence.