15-Year Sentence for Attacker of South Korean Opposition Leader

A man who stabbed South Korea's opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, in January has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. The knife attack occurred in Busan, and the assailant intended to prevent Lee from becoming president. The court characterized the act as a grave challenge to democratic principles.

A man who stabbed Lee Jae-myung, South Korea's opposition leader, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, court officials announced Friday. The assailant had approached Lee for an autograph during an event in Busan before the attack, intending to thwart Lee's presidential ambitions.

The Busan District Court found the man guilty of attempted murder and violating election laws. The court stressed that the attack was a severe challenge to South Korea's election systems, undermining social consensus and trust in democratic principles.

The incident preceded parliamentary elections in April where Lee's Democratic Party achieved significant victories. The attacker had long harbored political animosity towards Lee and had rehearsed the attack. Both the man and prosecutors have a week to appeal the decision.

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