South Korean opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck on Tuesday by a man who lunged at him with a knife after asking for his autograph, officials say.
Mr. Lee, 59, was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery to repair a major blood vessel and was later recovering and conscious in an intensive care unit, party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung said.
Mr. Kwon labelled the attack, weeks before a parliamentary election in April, as “political terror.”.
The attack happened as Mr. Lee walked through a crowd of journalists after visiting the site of a new airport.
He approached Mr. Lee, asking for an autograph while wearing what appeared to be a paper crown, then suddenly lunged forward and attacked him, local media said.
Mr. Lee grimaced, staggered back into the crowd behind him, and collapsed.
Photographs showed him on the ground with his eyes closed and bleeding and a handkerchief being held against his neck.
Mr. Lee was airlifted to the capital, Seoul, after receiving emergency treatment in Busan and had two hours of surgery at the Seoul National University Hospital.
Video footage showed the assailant was quickly subdued by party officials and police officers.
A Busan police official said the man was born in 1957 and used an 18-centimeter knife he had bought online.
He did not identify the suspect and said the motive was being investigated.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said the attack on Mr. Lee was unacceptable.
“This type of violence must never be tolerated under any circumstances,” Mr. Yoon was quoted as saying by his office.
He expressed deep concern for Mr. Lee and instructed that the best care be given so he could make a speedy recovery, his office said.
