President Yoon condemns attack against DP chief Lee Jae-myung

Politics

Published: 02 Jan. 2024, 11:55 Updated: 02 Jan. 2024, 13:41

President Yoon condemns attack against DP chief Lee Jae-myung

Police officers guard the entrance of Pusan National University Hospital in Busan, where Democratic Party chief Lee Jae-myung has been hospitalized after being stabbed on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Suk Yeol and other major political figures have condemned the knife attack against Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday.

Yoon, in a statement, said that no form of violent act, regardless of the motive, should be tolerated in society.

In the statement that followed the attack, he shared his concern for Lee and instructed the police and authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.

He also ordered full support for Lee's medical treatment.

Han Dong-hoon, the head of the People Power Party (PPP), also condemned the attack, saying that such violent acts should never occur in society.

He said he hopes for Lee's fast recovery and swift and rigorous investigation to hold those responsible accountable.

“To consider the attack as if it had occurred to me is something that a sophisticated party like our People Power Party and sophisticated citizens could extend to a fellow citizen," Han said. “Our society is more advanced than this."

He emphasized that South Korea is a nation whose democracy cannot be undermined by a few individuals like the assailant.

"We are a country guided by a constitution that upholds liberal democracy," Han stated.

"Regardless of our political affiliations, we, as a unified whole, must remain steadfast and express our hopes for the swift recovery of our political adversary.

Simultaneously, we should seek the truth and demand accountability when an unimaginable event transpires to safeguard our cherished democracy."

Lee Jun-seok, the former head of the PPP who left the party on Wednesday, said on Facebook that those resorting to violent acts against others based on differing opinions should never be forgiven.

Lee Nak-yon, the former DP leader and a political rival to Lee within the party, expressed his outrage over the attack and strongly condemned violence as a threat to democracy.

"Violence can never be tolerated," said Lee Nak-yon. "The suspect arrested on the scene should undergo a thorough investigation and face punishment to ensure that such acts of violence are never repeated."

In 2021, Lee Nak-yon competed against Lee Jae-myung in the party's presidential candidate primaries.

However, more recently, Lee Nak-yon has called for Lee Jae-myung to step down as the party leader. He stated that if his demands are not met, he will initiate the formation of his own political party.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]