SEOUL: On Wednesday, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party, continued to be hospitalized in intensive care following a shocking knife attack, a day prior.
This incident rattled political figures competing for an advantage in a significant election just three months away.
Late on Tuesday, surgeons conducted a procedure on Lee that lasted over two hours, aiming to mend a critical blood vessel in his neck that had been cut when an assailant lunged and stabbed him with a knife.
“The act of terror against Chairman Lee Jae-myung was clearly a challenge against democracy and a threat against democracy,” Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo said at a party leadership council meeting.
Jin Jeong-hwa emphasized the necessity for an expedited inquiry and heightened security measures for prominent political figures, mirroring revived concerns about campaign trail safety in a nation marked by a history of political violence despite stringent gun ownership regulations. As a witness to the stabbing incident and a supporter of the party, Jin highlighted the imperative for robust and specialized security provisions for political leaders beyond mere police surveillance.
Leaders from opposition factions specifically require a specialized security team that Jin stated in a Reuters interview, underscoring his observation from various political gatherings that Lee was significantly vulnerable to personal safety risks.
Lee, a resilient progressive, nearly clinched victory in the 2022 presidential race. He’s been galvanizing the party to maintain its stronghold in the parliament against President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative faction. As South Korea braces for its crucial April 10th election, the conservatives aim to reclaim a majority, potentially shifting the political landscape and bolstering Yoon’s agenda centered around pro-business measures like tax cuts, deregulation, and social reforms.
