A man who stabbed South Korea’s opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, in the neck earlier this year has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, court officials announced on Friday. The attack took place in January when the assailant approached Lee, head of the liberal Democratic Party, under the pretense of asking for an autograph at an event in Busan. The attacker, who is about 67 years old, told investigators that his motive was to prevent Lee from becoming South Korea’s president.
The Busan District Court found the man guilty of attempted murder and violating election laws. Both the man and prosecutors have one week to appeal the verdict. The court described the attack as a “grave challenge” to the country’s election systems and an act that “significantly destroys social consensus and confidence on the basic liberal democratic principles,” according to Yonhap news agency. The court noted that the attacker had long harbored animosity towards Lee due to political differences, had practiced stabbing his neck in advance, and had followed him at five public events.
The attack occurred ahead of South Korea’s crucial parliamentary elections in April, which resulted in a massive victory for Lee’s Democratic Party and other opposition parties against President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative governing party. The court did not disclose the attacker’s identity, but police had earlier identified him by his surname, Kim.
The attack left Lee bleeding and slumped on the ground. He was hospitalized for eight days, during which he underwent surgery and other treatments. Upon leaving the hospital in Seoul later in January, Lee expressed hopes for an end to the “politics of hatred” in South Korea.
During police questioning, the attacker said he was dissatisfied with what he perceived as a lack of progress in investigations into various corruption allegations against Lee. He admitted that he tried to kill Lee to damage his party’s prospects in the parliamentary elections and to eliminate Lee’s chances of becoming South Korea’s next president. Democratic Party officials confirmed that the attacker had become a member of the party last year. The ruling People Power Party stated that he is not currently their member, although media reports indicated that he had previously been affiliated with the party’s predecessor.
Lee, a former provincial governor known for his sharp tongue, lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon, a former top prosecutor, by the narrowest margin in South Korean history. The closely contested race and subsequent political bickering have exacerbated the country’s already toxic conservative-liberal divide. Surveys have shown that Lee is one of the early favorites for the 2027 presidential election. Yoon is barred by law from seeking reelection.
The attacker pretended to be a supporter and stabbed Lee in the neck as the politician was surrounded by journalists at the event on January 2. Lee suffered a wound to his jugular vein, underwent emergency surgery, and recovered after being hospitalized for about a week. President Yoon Suk-yeol’s ruling People Power Party lost the National Assembly elections to the Democratic Party and its allies.
Lee resigned as party leader last week and is widely expected to run for the leadership of the Democratic Party again at a party convention scheduled for August. Several high-profile South Korean politicians have been attacked in public in recent years. For instance, Song Young-gil, who led the Democratic Party before Lee, was struck in the head with a blunt object in 2022. In 2006, Park Geun-hye, who became president in 2013, was attacked with a knife at a rally.
The court’s public affairs office could not immediately confirm details of Friday’s verdict. The attack on Lee was described by President Yoon as an “act of terror” and a challenge to democracy. The incident has highlighted the intense political divisions in South Korea and the potential for violence in the country’s highly charged political environment.
Lee Jae-myung’s political career has been marked by controversy and strong opinions. Despite losing the 2022 presidential election, he remains a significant figure in South Korean politics and is considered a strong contender for the 2027 presidential race. His recovery from the attack and his continued political activity demonstrate his resilience and commitment to his political ideals.
The sentencing of the attacker to 15 years in prison serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of political violence and the importance of maintaining democratic principles and processes. The court’s decision underscores the need for a peaceful and respectful political discourse in South Korea, free from the threat of violence and intimidation.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
