Mystery of Suspect Kim's Visit to Ulsan in the 'Lee Jae-myung Assault' Case

Visited Ulsan Before Crime... Targeted 'Pyeongsan Village' Schedule
Planned Crime Suspected... Followed Lee's Schedule for Over a Year
Ruling and Opposition Parties Tense Over Party Affiliation... Unavoidable Impact on General Election

Questions are growing surrounding the attack on Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Attention is focused on the background of suspect Mr. Kim traveling from Busan to Ulsan and back to Busan a day before the incident. Since Lee's subsequent schedule included a visit to Pyeongsan Village, there are suspicions that the suspect may have scouted the crime location in advance. It is also of interest which party membership Mr. Kim held, as it could affect the upcoming general election. While both ruling and opposition parties are cautious about overinterpretation, they are closely monitoring the police investigation into the suspect’s party affiliation.

Why Did the Attack on Lee Jae-myung in Busan Involve a Trip to Ulsan a Day Earlier?

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to the police on the 4th, investigators are examining the detailed movements and motives of suspect Kim (67), who ambushed Lee Jae-myung in Busan on the 2nd. Evidence shows that Kim followed Lee’s itinerary as he toured the Gyeongnam and Busan areas. Kim was also spotted near the site of a Democratic Party meeting for victims of rental fraud in Busan on the 13th of last month, two weeks before the incident.

Among Kim’s movements, his visit to Ulsan is particularly puzzling. Police investigations revealed that on the morning of the 1st, Kim took the KTX from his residence in Asan, Chungnam, to Busan. On the same day, he took the KTX from Busan Station to Ulsan Station and then returned to Busan.

The police are focusing on the possibility that Kim traveled between Busan and Ulsan to conduct a “reconnaissance” before the crime. On the 2nd, the day of the attack, Lee was scheduled to meet former President Moon Jae-in at Pyeongsan Village after finishing his itinerary on Gadeokdo Island. Ulsan Station is only about 9 km in a straight line from Pyeongsan Bookstore, approximately a 20-minute walk. This has raised suspicions that Kim may have scouted the crime scene in line with Lee’s schedule.

The attack by Kim is increasingly seen as a “planned crime.” The Busan Police Headquarters investigation team stated that the weapon Kim used to attack Lee appeared to have been modified in advance. It was a hiking knife measuring 17 cm in length with a 12.5 cm blade, from which the handle was removed and replaced with tape wrapped around the grip. Notably, during a search of Kim’s real estate brokerage office, police also seized additional knife-sharpening tools.

Ruling and Opposition Parties on Edge Over 'Suspect’s Party Affiliation'...Inevitable Impact on General Election

Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the People Power Party, is issuing a statement regarding the party leader's assault after concluding a closed emergency party members' meeting at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Both ruling and opposition parties are keenly watching whether suspect Kim holds any party membership. According to political sources, a person with the same name and birthdate as Kim was confirmed to have held membership in the Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) from 2015 to 2020. After leaving Saenuri, he reportedly joined the Democratic Party in April 2023.

The police are verifying Kim’s party affiliation by obtaining party membership lists on a voluntary submission basis. The ruling party has clarified that the suspect currently does not hold membership in the People Power Party. Jang Dong-hyuk, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, said the previous day, “To actively cooperate with the investigation authorities, we confirmed the suspect’s party affiliation. The suspect currently does not hold membership in the People Power Party.” The Democratic Party also stated, “We confirmed the suspect’s party affiliation with the police on a voluntary submission basis,” adding, “The suspect’s Democratic Party membership status, motive for the crime, and preparation process must be clarified.”

Given the sensitive timing just before the general election, conspiracy theories and fake news are also spreading. Some claim that Kim held membership in the People Power Party but joined the Democratic Party as a “cover” before the crime. The People Power Party confirmed that someone with the same name held membership until 2020, but they maintain that it is unclear whether this is the same individual as the suspect.

Especially as some supporters of the ruling party continue to suspect that the attack on Lee was a “staged event,” the Democratic Party has labeled such claims as a “secondary attack” and announced plans for legal action through a countermeasure committee. Floor leader Hong Ik-pyo warned, “There have been very inappropriate remarks on some YouTube broadcasts and certain cable news channels suggesting that the attack on Lee was a political stunt. We will respond legally and politically through a party-level countermeasure committee.”