A 67-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stabbing the leader of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party. The attack, which occurred ahead of a general election, was described by the judge as a serious challenge to representative democracy.
The attacker, named Kim, was seeking a 20-year prison sentence. The victim, Lee Jae-myung, was stabbed in the neck while visiting Busan. The incident, captured on video, showed the attacker wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name before stabbing him.
The attack was condemned as an act of terror by President Yoon Suk Yeol and politicians from both ruling and opposition parties. Despite the incident, Lee’s party won a parliamentary election in April, reducing President Yoon’s influence without achieving a super majority.
Lee also recently lost the 2022 presidential election and is currently on trial for bribery charges. The sentencing reflects the gravity of the attack and serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding democratic values.