South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung survives stabbing attack in Busan

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed while making a public announcement in Busan. Following the incident, authorities immediately apprehended the attacker. Lee, who lost the presidential election in 2022, was transported to the hospital approximately 20 minutes post-assault and is currently conscious.

Lee Jae-myung, who suffered a defeat in the 2022 presidential polls, was stabbed on the left side of his neck this morning, January 2. The perpetrator was caught instantly, with Lee rushed to a hospital roughly 20 minutes following the attack.

Lee is still conscious, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. Although Lee is not currently a member of South Korea’s legislative council, he is widely expected to run for office in the next general elections, scheduled for April 2024.

In the 2022 presidential election, Lee was defeated by a slim margin of 0.73% from the current President Yoon Suk-yeol. It is considered the closest presidential race in South Korean history.

In related news, South Korea has been hit by a tsunami with a wave height of 67 centimetres, exceeding initial predictions by the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA). The surging wave height, which is potentially dangerous, could also affect North Korea, which has issued a tsunami warning.

The KMA reported that a 20-centimetre high tsunami wave hit the east coast of Kangneung City in Gangwon province at 6.01pm today, local time, or 4.01pm Thai time. In addition, Donghae city in Gangwon province experienced a tsunami wave reaching 45 centimetres at 4.05pm Thai time.

Furthermore, a 67-centimetre high tsunami wave hit the Makho area of Donghae city at 6pm Thai time today, which is higher than KMA’s previous estimate that the wave would be less than 50 centimetres.

The KMA emphasised that the height of the tsunami wave could reach dangerous levels depending on the rise and flow of the current. The tsunami could impact Gangwon province for more than 24 hours. Read more about the story HERE.