South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck during a public event

The leader of the Democratic Party was attacked by an unidentified individual while visiting the construction sites of a new airport in the city of Busan

South Korea's opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, was stabbed in the neck during a public event (EFE)

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was attacked and wounded Tuesday by an unidentified man during a visit to the southeastern city of Busan , emergency officials said.

Busan 's emergency office said Lee was attacked while visiting construction sites for a new airport in the city.

Lee  was taken  consciously  to the  hospital  by an  ambulance  about  20 minutes later  with significant  bleeding , while the perpetrator of the attack, a man between 60 and 70 years old, was  immediately arrested , according to the  Yonhap agency .

After receiving  emergency care  at the  Pusan ​​National University Hospital , Lee was transferred by  helicopter  to the  capital  to undergo surgery at the  Seoul National University Hospital , according to  PD sources  cited by  Yonhap  who also indicated that the politician lost a lot of  blood due to the attack .

The leader of the main opposition party: the Democratic Party , was conscious, but his exact status was unknown.

According to eyewitnesses and images broadcast on television , the perpetrator of the attack approached Lee , apparently pretending to be one of his followers and asking for an autograph .

The man attacked the liberal politician by surprise by stabbing him with an object that has not yet been identified and that would have a length of between 20 and 30 centimeters .

Television video showed Lee lying on the floor and a person pressing a handkerchief on his neck to stop the bleeding .

According to reports, police detained the man at the scene. The attacker wore something similar to a crown on his head .

Lee lost the 2022 presidential election to President Yoon Suk Yeol by a narrow margin.

Lee , a former provincial governor, is known for his outspoken style. His supporters see him as an anti-elitist hero capable of reforming politics, rooting out corruption and resolving growing economic inequality . His critics see him as a dangerous populist who exacerbates divisions and demonizes his conservative opponents.

Both South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and the leader of the ruling, conservative People's Power Party ( PPP ), Han Dong-hoon , have strongly condemned the attack and called for a full investigation into what happened.

https://www.infobae.com/america/mundo/2024/01/02/el-lider-de-la-oposicion-de-corea-del-sur-lee-jae-myung-fue-apunalado-en-el-cuello-durante-un-acto-publico/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67860330

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