South Korean opposition leader stabbed in neck

South Korean opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, was stabbed in the neck Tuesday while speaking to journalists in the coastal city of Busan in the southeast of the country, as reported by AFP citing South Korean news agencies.

Lee was walking surrounded by a group of journalists after visiting a new airport site in the city when a man standing in front of him stabbed him in the neck with a knife, according to footage shown by South Korean television.

The 59-year-old opposition politician fell to the ground, and several people rushed to help him. The Yonhap news agency published a photo showing Lee lying on the ground with his wound covered by a cloth.

Lee was still conscious when transported to the hospital, and the attacker was apprehended at the scene, according to reports.

An eyewitness told the local channel YTN that Lee "was walking towards his car and talking to the journalists when the attacker asked for his autograph," indicating that the opposition politician was then stabbed "with what appeared to be a knife."

Television footage showed paramedics transferring Lee to an ambulance. Yonhap reported that a helicopter later transported him to Pusan National University Hospital.

"Regarding Lee's health condition, we are still awaiting the medical team's evaluation," the Democratic Party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung said, urging the police to conduct a "thorough" investigation into the attack.

Footage showed police officers detaining the assailant, who wore a hat bearing Lee's name, before pushing him to the ground and restraining him.

Lee, the leader of the Democratic Party, had lost to Governor Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election.

Lee is expected to run for the South Korean presidency in 2027, and recent opinion polls indicate that he remains a serious contender.