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SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck by an unidentified knife-wielding man during a visit Tuesday to the southeastern city of Busan.
Busan’s emergency office said Lee was attacked as he visited the construction site of a new airport in the city. It said Lee, head of the main opposition Democratic Party, was conscious but his exact condition was unknown.
Lee slumped to the ground, where a person pressed a handkerchief to his neck to stop the bleeding.
Videos circulated on social media showed the attacker, wearing a paper crown reading “I'm Lee Jae-myung,” being chased and tackled by several people. He was arrested on the spot.
A witness, Jin Jeong-hwa, told YTN television that the attacker approached Lee, saying he was a supporter and wanted to get his autograph, and then suddenly took out a knife-like weapon and stabbed him in the neck. Jin said Lee bled a lot.