Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic leader of South Korea’s main opposition party, was stabbed in the neck while in the city of Busan. The attack occurred on Tuesday morning, January 2nd, 2024, when a man, feigning to be a supporter, approached Mr. Lee asking for his autograph. Mr. Lee, 59, was visiting a construction site for a planned airport when he was assaulted. The police have detained a 66-year-old suspect, who is under investigation for attempted murder. This event has raised significant concerns about political violence in South Korea.

The Busan police have disclosed that the assailant used a knife with a five-inch blade. Immediate reactions from various high-level officials, including President Yoon Suk Yeol, who expressed “deep concern” about the attack, have poured in. The president has ordered a swift investigation and assured support for Mr. Lee’s medical treatment. The incident has also garnered reactions from international figures, highlighting the growing concern over political safety in South Korea.

This violent act against Lee Jae-myung is deeply concerning. It not only raises questions about the safety of political figures but also points to the heightened tensions within South Korean politics. Our stance remains firm against such acts of violence, and we advocate for a political environment where differences are settled through dialogue and democratic processes, not through physical attacks. We stand for a society where political differences, however vast they may be, are resolved through dialogue and not through acts that threaten life and disrupt democratic processes.

The background of this incident is tied closely to the polarized political climate in South Korea. Mr. Lee, a prominent figure who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election, has been a subject of controversy, facing several investigations for alleged corruption. His supporters see him as a voice for the underprivileged, while critics label him as a corrupt populist. This incident happens amidst increasing political polarization and just before the parliamentary elections scheduled in April, underlining the tense political atmosphere in the country.

The stabbing of Lee Jae-myung is not just an attack on an individual but an assault on the democratic values that underpin South Korean society. As he recovers from his vein reconstruction surgery, the implications of this event extend beyond immediate medical concerns, signaling a worrying trend of escalating political violence. This incident must lead to a broader conversation about political tolerance and the importance of safeguarding democratic processes in South Korea.