South Korean opposition leader is stabbed in the neck by a knife-wielding man

South Korean absorption person Lee Jae-myung was stabbed successful the cervix by an unidentified antheral during a sojourn to the metropolis of Busan.

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean absorption person Lee Jae-myung was stabbed successful the cervix by an unidentified knife-wielding antheral during a sojourn Tuesday to the southeastern metropolis of Busan.

Busan's exigency bureau said Lee was attacked arsenic helium visited the operation tract of a caller airdrome successful the city. It said Lee, caput of the main absorption Democratic Party, was conscious but his nonstop information was unknown.

Lee slumped to the ground, wherever a idiosyncratic pressed a handkerchief to his cervix to halt the bleeding.

Videos circulated connected societal media showed the attacker, wearing a insubstantial crown speechmaking "I'm Lee Jae-myung," being chased and tackled by respective people. He was arrested connected the spot.

South Korean absorption person Lee Jae-myung connected a stretcher, is carried by rescue squad successful Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

Ha Kyung-min/Newsis via AP

A witness, Jin Jeong-hwa, told YTN tv that the attacker approached Lee, saying helium was a protagonist and wanted to get his autograph, and past abruptly took retired a knife-like limb and stabbed him successful the neck. Jin said Lee bled a lot.

President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed heavy interest astir Lee's wellness and ordered authorities to analyse the attack, saying specified unit would not beryllium tolerated, according to Yoon's office.

Lee mislaid the 2022 statesmanlike predetermination to Yoon by a constrictive margin.

Lee, a wide erstwhile provincial governor, is known for his outspoken style. His supporters spot him arsenic an anti-elitist leader who could betterment constitution politics, eradicate corruption and lick increasing economical inequality. Critics presumption him arsenic a unsafe populist who relies connected stoking divisions and demonizing his blimpish opponents.