Reason why South Korean opposition party leader was stabbed

Police said the attacker, identified as Kim, 66, was a real estate broker who had run into financial difficulties and had not been able to pay rent for seven months.

Kim had been stalking and planning an attack on Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung for months. The attacker bought a knife in April 2023 and began following Lee to various public events in June 2023.

On January 2, 2024, Kim pretended to be a supporter of Lee Jae-myung and launched a surprise attack with a knife.

Mr. Lee, 60, suffered injuries to his jugular vein and underwent hours of emergency surgery at Seoul National University Hospital, but recovered well and was discharged today.

Lee Jae-myung narrowly lost to President Yoon Suk-yeol in 2022 in the most closely contested election in South Korea's history.

Many expect him to run again in 2027. Recent polls show Mr Lee remains a strong contender, endearing him to left-wing voters with his pledge to introduce a universal basic income.

However, his re-election bid was overshadowed by a series of scandals and the politician was indicted last March on charges including bribery.

In August 2023, prosecutors charged Mr. Lee with third-party bribery, in connection with a company that allegedly illegally transferred about $3 million to North Korea to facilitate Mr. Lee’s visit to Pyongyang. Mr. Lee has denied the charges, calling them “set up” and a “political conspiracy.”

“The attacker expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of punishment for Mr. Lee, including the delay in the trial,” an official from the Busan Police Agency said.

The official said the suspect made clear his intention to prevent the politician from becoming president and winning a majority of seats in the upcoming general election.

Police said the investigation revealed that the suspect had turned to political extremism.

Mr Lee's Democratic Party is trying to retain its majority in parliamentary elections in April.

“I sincerely hope that this shocking incident will be a milestone in ending the politics of hatred and confrontation and restoring the correct politics of mutual respect and coexistence,” Lee Jae-myung told reporters as he left Seoul National University Hospital on January 10.

Several high-ranking South Korean politicians have been attacked in public over the years. Song Young-gil, Lee's predecessor in the Democratic Party, was hit in the head with a hammer by an elderly man in 2022.

In 2006, Park Geun-hye, then leader of the Democratic Party and later president, was attacked with a knife at a campaign rally. The attack left an 11cm scar on her face.