South Korean opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung, was on Tuesday stabbed while speaking to reporters in Busan, the port city.
According to reports, as Jae-myung navigated through a group of journalists following his visit to a new airport site, a man ahead of him suddenly lunged and inflicted a stab wound to his neck, as captured on various South Korean television channels.
The distressing footage depicted the 59-year-old collapsing to the ground while bystanders hurried to assist him.
Among the responders, one individual was observed applying a handkerchief to stem the bleeding from Jae-myung’s neck.
He was “walking to his car while talking to reporters when the attacker asked for his autograph”, a witness told local broadcaster YTN, adding that the opposition leader was then struck with what “looked like a knife.”
Emergency personnel swiftly transported Jae-myung into an ambulance following the attack.
Subsequently, reports from the Yonhap news agency indicated that he was further conveyed to the hospital via helicopter for immediate medical attention.
Despite the distressing incident, Jae-myung remained conscious while being transported to Pusan National University Hospital, as confirmed by the agency.
Reports described him as bleeding but alert during the transfer to receive medical care.
“This is an act of terror against Lee and a serious threat to democracy that should never occur under any circumstances,” Kwon Chil-seung, an MP from Lee’s Democratic Party, told reporters outside the hospital.
“As to Lee’s condition, we are waiting for the medical staff’s assessment,” he added, demanding a “thorough” police investigation into the attack.
Police in Busan said Jae-myung suffered a “one-centimetre laceration on his neck” and that he “remains conscious and bleeding is minor”, according to South Korean news outlet Chosun Ilbo.
