US Media Quickly Reports on 'Lee Jae-myung Attack'... Revisiting Attacks on Park Geun-hye and Leifert

CNN, NYT, WP and Other Major Foreign Media Quickly Report
Park Geun-hye, Leifert, etc... Past Assault Incidents Revisited

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was attacked with a weapon in Busan on the 2nd, and American media outlets reported the news as breaking news, simultaneously publishing articles detailing the incident's background, circumstances, and outlook.

At around 10:27 a.m. on the 2nd, Kim, a real estate agent, approached Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at Daehang Observatory in Gadeokdo, Gangseo-gu, Busan, and stabbed the left side of Lee's neck with a weapon.
[Photo by YouTube 'BareunSoriTV']

On the 2nd (local time), CNN analyzed that the background of the incident lies in 'political polarization,' stating, "South Korean politics has been divided, especially due to severe polarization in recent years." It also mentioned that "South Korea has previously faced political violence against high-ranking politicians," citing incidents such as former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil being struck on the head with a hammer by a political YouTuber during the 2022 presidential election campaign, as well as incidents involving former President Park and former Ambassador Lippert.

The New York Times (NYT) also reported the details of the incident on the same day, noting, "Since the 2022 presidential election, Lee has been under continuous investigation related to a series of allegations including corruption," and added, "Recently, South Korean politics has shown increasing polarization, and the confrontation between President Yoon and Lee has deepened ahead of the April general election."

It further stated, "Public opinion in South Korea is divided regarding Lee, who is considered a likely candidate for the 2027 presidential election," explaining, "His progressive supporters back him as a representative of the underprivileged and social minorities, while conservatives label him a corrupt populist." A populist refers to a person who pursues policies by pandering to popular sentiment, typically a politician who maintains power by riding on public popularity.

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung was attacked with a weapon. He received medical care including a tetanus vaccination at Busan National University Hospital and was airlifted by helicopter to Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul around 1 p.m. for surgery.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Washington Post (WP) also provided a detailed report on the incident, pointing out that "South Korean politics is becoming increasingly divided and bitter ahead of the April general election." It added, "Lee, who underwent a two-hour surgery, is currently recovering in the intensive care unit," and introduced him as "a labor lawyer turned politician who narrowly lost to President Yoon Seok-yeol in the 2022 presidential election."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) described Lee as "one of the biggest critics of South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol," noting that "(the attack) occurred just months before the April parliamentary elections." WSJ also referenced previous attacks on politicians before 2006, stating, "South Korea is a relatively safe country but has a history of violent attacks against political and diplomatic figures."

NBC cited a briefing from Korean police revealing that the length of Lee's wound was less than 0.5 inches (1.27 cm), reporting that although Lee was attacked, his life was not in critical danger. It also mentioned, "Lee is currently conscious and, fortunately, did not suffer heavy bleeding."

ABC reported, "Lee was attacked during a Q&A session with reporters immediately after visiting the site of the Gadeokdo New Airport," and noted that "President Yoon, who defeated him in the 2022 presidential election, expressed concern and emphasized that 'our society must never tolerate such acts of violence under any circumstances.'"

Park Geun-hye, Song Young-gil, Lippert, and Others... History of Attacks in South Korean Politics

Former President Park Geun-hye, who was the leader of the Grand National Party at the time, visited Daejeon after being discharged from the hospital following an assassination attempt, covering the surgical site on her right cheek with a flesh-colored bandage.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on May 20, 2006, then Grand National Party leader and former President Park Geun-hye was injured by a 50-year-old man named Ji Mo wielding a stationery cutter knife while she was on stage supporting Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon in Sinchon, Seoul, ahead of the May 31 local elections. She sustained an 11 cm laceration on her right cheek and underwent suturing surgery. During her hospitalization, Park reportedly asked her aides, "What about Daejeon?" according to media reports, and after discharge, she immediately went to Daejeon to support the election campaign, which helped reverse the Grand National Party's unfavorable position.

In May 2015, an incident occurred where a man wielded a weapon against Mark Lippert, then U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, during a breakfast event held at the Sejong Center in Seoul. Ambassador Lippert sustained injuries extending near his carotid artery, with a facial wound measuring 11 cm in length and 3 cm in depth.

Most recently, ahead of the March 9, 2022 presidential election, former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil was struck on the head with a blunt instrument by YouTuber Pyo Mo during a campaign rally supporting then-candidate Lee Jae-myung in Sinchon, Seoul. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, Song continued campaigning with a bandaged head, demonstrating a 'bandage fighting spirit,' but the Democratic Party ultimately lost the election, leading to differing assessments of the incident's electoral impact.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the 2nd at around 10:27 a.m., Lee was attacked with a weapon by a man in his 60s disguised as a supporter after visiting the site of the Gadeokdo New Airport in Gangseo-gu, Busan. The man wore a crown inscribed with "I am Lee Jae-myung" on his head and approached Lee, requesting an autograph before stabbing Lee in the neck with a weapon.

President Yoon Seok-yeol stated, "Our society must never tolerate acts of violence under any circumstances," and instructed the National Police Agency chief to swiftly ascertain the facts and provide full support for Lee's prompt hospital transfer and treatment. Han Dong-hoon, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, also urged, "This is something that must never, ever happen in our society," calling on investigative authorities to conduct a strict investigation to uncover the full truth and hold responsible parties accountable with severe penalties.