Man Who Stabbed South Korean Opposition Leader Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
SEOUL –
A 67-year-old man who stabbed the leader of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, as reported by the Yonhap news agency. The attack, which occurred ahead of a general election, was deemed a serious challenge to representative democracy.
During a sentencing hearing at the Busan District Court, the judge highlighted the severity of the crime. The prosecution had initially sought a 20-year sentence for the attacker, identified as Kim.
The victim, Lee Jae-myung, who recently stepped down as Democratic Party leader, was assaulted in Busan in January. The attacker, wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it, approached him under the pretense of asking for an autograph before stabbing him in the neck.
The incident was labeled an “act of terror” by President Yoon Suk-yeol and led to bipartisan condemnation. Lee’s party later achieved a significant victory in the parliamentary election, though falling short of a super majority. Meanwhile, Lee faces bribery charges following his narrow loss in the 2022 presidential election.
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