Police Give Weight to the Possibility of a Planned Crime
A man in his 60s who attacked Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, near the site of the new airport on Gadeokdo Island in Busan has been identified as a self-employed real estate agent living in Asan City, Chungnam Province.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, which formed a "Special Investigation Headquarters for the Attack on Leader Lee Jae-myung," announced that the suspect, Kim, who was arrested at the scene, was born in 1957 and resides in Chungnam. Kim is accused of attempting to kill Lee by wielding a weapon at around 10:30 a.m. on the 2nd after Lee had toured the new airport site on Gadeokdo Island and was moving while answering questions from reporters. Kim approached Lee asking for an autograph before committing the crime and was arrested on the spot by police officers present.
Lee, who was transferred from Busan National University Hospital Regional Trauma Center to Seoul National University Hospital, was found to have an internal jugular vein injury and underwent vascular reconstruction surgery including thrombectomy starting at 3:45 p.m. that day. Due to a larger-than-expected amount of blood clots flowing from the vein, a stent was inserted during the surgery. Lee is currently recovering in the intensive care unit.
Kim is known to have worked at Yeongdeungpo District Office in Seoul before retiring and opening a real estate brokerage office in Baebang-eup, Asan City, as a licensed real estate agent. As suspicions arose that Kim had recently visited events attended by Lee twice, the police are conducting the investigation with a focus on the possibility of a premeditated crime.
It was confirmed that Kim attended a meeting for victims of rental fraud in the Busan region held by the Democratic Party at a cafe in Suyeong-gu, Busan, on December 13 last year. Reviewing footage from that day shows a figure believed to be Kim among the crowd waiting for Lee after the meeting. This figure wore a crown-shaped headband with the phrase "I am Lee Jae-myung" and held a sign with the same phrase, similar to the incident on the 2nd. However, Kim did not make direct contact with Lee that day.
There are also testimonies that Kim was seen at the Bongha Village, Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, at the tomb of former President Roh Moo-hyun on the 1st, a day before the attack. However, it is reported that Kim did not wear the crown-shaped headband that day. Lee visited the tomb with Democratic Party leadership and paid respects to Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook.
Having followed Lee at least twice, Kim ultimately attacked Lee with a weapon concealed in the upper pocket of his jacket. During police questioning, he reportedly stated, "I purchased the weapon online," and admitted to having the intent to kill Lee.
The police investigating the case have requested confirmation of Kim’s party membership status from both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party. Additionally, a special investigation team of 68 members has been formed to conduct further investigation into Kim. As early as the 3rd, they plan to apply for an arrest warrant on charges of attempted murder.
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