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Weapon used to attack DP chief was a modified camping knife, police say

Published: 03 Jan. 2024, 13:11 Updated: 04 Jan. 2024, 15:26

Police officers on Wednesday guards the Seoul National University Hospital, where DP leader Lee Jae-myung was hospitalized after an attack on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The weapon used in the attack against Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was modified by the 67-year-old assailant.

Additionally, the assailant — identified by his family name of Kim — not only visited Busan Station but also Ulsan Station, which is near the residence of former President Moon Jae-in, the day before the attack occurred.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, which is investigating the attack against the DP chief on Wednesday, the weapon used was a 17-centimeter camping knife.

“The knife handle was removed and wrapped with something else,” a police officer involved in the case told reporters. “It appeared that the knife was modified for convenience.”

While the exact length of the original handle on the camping knife is unknown, the police speculate that the knife was modified for easy concealment and retrieval from the pocket on Kim’s jacket.

The police added that the assailant did not possess any other types of weapons and that the attack was carried out on his own.

The police also vehemently denied rumors suggesting that Lee was assaulted with a chopstick.

The police said they traced the routes Kim took the day before the attack.

According to the police, Kim left his residence in Asan, South Chungcheong, heading to Busan on the KTX bullet train, with a stop at Ulsan Station.

Authorities are investigating the possibility that Kim surveyed locations where the DP chief would be visiting, aligning with his scheduled activities the day before.

After visiting Gadeok Island for a briefing on the new international airport planned for Busan, the DP chief was scheduled to see former President Moon Jae-in to rally support ahead of the April parliamentary election.

The former president's residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang, is near Ulsan Station.

“We are currently investigating the exact route the assailant took and the purpose of his visits,” the police said.

DP chief Lee was assaulted by the 67-year-old assailant, who approached him while wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name imprinted on it.

Kim also told the investigators that he was a registered DP member.

Lee suffered a 1-centimeter wound on his left neck, leading to a two-hour surgery on his jugular vein.

He is currently in the intensive care unit at Seoul National University Hospital, having been transferred from Pusan National University Hospital.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [[email protected]]