Confessed assailant says he stabbed South Korean opposition chief out of 'political beliefs': Police

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - An assailant who stabbed South Korea's main opposition leader told police he carried out the attack to "prevent him from becoming president," local media reported on Wednesday.

Democratic Party chief Lee Jae-myung survived after being stabbed in the left side of his neck last week in the southern port city of Busan while speaking to journalists.

The 67-year-old suspect, identified only by his family name Kim, is being investigated on charges of attempted murder, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported on Wednesday.

"The suspect has said to the effect that he decided to kill the victim so as to prevent him from becoming president and ... taking a majority of seats in the upcoming general elections," said Woo Chul-moon, head of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency.

South Korea is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in April, while presidential polls are set for 2027.

The assailant also told police that he held a grudge against Lee because the politician "was not properly punished amid delays in his trials."

"Kim committed the extreme crime out of subjective political beliefs," the police official said.

While being transferred to the prosecutor’s office, Kim told reporters: "I caused concerns. I am sorry."

Police have said that ahead of the incident on Jan. 2, Kim had prepared an "excuse note" alleging that Lee's trials were "being delayed due to pro-North Korean forces in the judiciary" and that he "tried to prevent Lee from becoming president and the country from falling in the hands of leftist forces."

South Korean police have decided against disclosing Kim's political party affiliation.