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Verdict reached for attacker who stabbed South Korean opposition leader Lee

The attacker who stabbed Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party in South Korea, in the neck has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

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According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the court concluded that the defendant committed the attack after planning it for a long time due to "differing political views."

The Busan District Court sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison for "attempted murder and violation of the election law."

The court stated that this crime, in addition to being an attempt to take the life of leader Lee, interfered with the freedom of elections and damaged social consensus and trust.

Stating that the defendant committed this crime because he held different political views, the court revealed that the attack had been planned with "persistence and meticulousness" for 9 months.

The court characterized the attack as an "attempt to undermine the electoral system and representative democracy," emphasizing that such actions cannot be justified.

WHAT HAPPENED?

While visiting a construction site on Gadeok Island in Busan on January 2, the attacker approached Lee Jae-myung under the pretext of getting an autograph while he was answering questions from members of the press, and wounded Lee in the neck with a sharp object.

 

It was announced that Lee, who was taken to the hospital after the attack, was not in life-threatening condition.

Lee was discharged from the hospital on January 10.

The attacker, who was caught at the scene, had confessed that he planned to kill Lee.

In footage on social media, it was determined that the suspect had previously been seen at an event Lee attended in the city of Busan.