South Korea's Lee Jae Myung: People saved me from 2024 Busan knife attack
Synopsis
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung marked a turning point on Saturday, invoking his survival of a 2024 Busan knife attack as a mandate from the people — hours after the state civil rights commission reversed a ruling that had branded his emergency airlift as preferential treatment. His X post, framing the attack alongside what he called 'judicial murder' and 'honour killing,' signals how deeply personal and political his presidency is shaping up to be.
Key Takeaways
President Lee Jae Myung was stabbed in the neck in Busan on 2 January 2024 by a 67-year-old man posing as a supporter.
He was airlifted by helicopter from Pusan National University Hospital to Seoul National University Hospital for emergency surgery.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission initially ruled the airlift as preferential treatment warranting disciplinary action.
The commission reversed that ruling on Friday , finding the airlift was within its lawful scope — and that the former deputy chief had exercised undue influence in the original decision.
Lee posted on X on Saturday vowing to devote himself entirely to the people, saying: "My life now belongs entirely to the people."
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said on Saturday, 10 May 2025, that he survived a 2024 knife attack solely because of the people's support, and pledged to devote himself entirely to the country. His remarks came a day after the state civil rights commission reversed an earlier ruling that had flagged his emergency airlift from Busan to Seoul as preferential treatment.
The 2024 Knife Attack
Lee Jae Myung was stabbed in the neck by a 67-year-old man posing as a supporter during a visit to the southeastern city of Busan on 2 January 2024. He was transported by helicopter from Pusan National University Hospital to Seoul National University Hospital for surgery. At the time, Lee was serving as the leader of the then-main opposition Democratic Party, while ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol was in office.
The Commission's Reversal
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission had initially ruled the helicopter airlift to be preferential treatment not available to ordinary citizens, and recommended disciplinary action against the medical staff and rescue workers involved. However, on Friday, the commission overturned that decision, stating the airlift was carried out within its proper scope of authority. A recent internal probe found that the then deputy chief of the commission had exercised undue influence in arriving at the original ruling.
Lee's Message to the Nation
On Saturday, Lee posted a message on social platform X, linking to a news report on the commission's reversal. He described the attack as a
Point of View
Now found to have been influenced by the then deputy chief, cast a shadow over Lee at a time when he was the leading opposition figure challenging Yoon Suk Yeol's government. That the same commission has now cleared the airlift as lawful raises serious questions about how politically insulated South Korea's civil rights institutions truly are. Lee's framing of the attack as a 'terrorist murder attempt' compounded by 'judicial murder' and 'honour killing' is a deliberate escalation — one that positions his presidency as a mandate wrested from hostile forces, not merely won at the ballot box. Whether that narrative strengthens or polarises his base will define the early tenor of his administration.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attacked?
Lee Jae Myung was stabbed in the neck on 2 January 2024 during a visit to Busan by a 67-year-old man who had posed as a supporter. He was airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital for surgery.
Why was Lee's airlift initially ruled as preferential treatment?
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission had determined that the helicopter transfer from Pusan National University Hospital to Seoul National University Hospital was a privilege not available to ordinary citizens, and recommended disciplinary action against the medical staff and rescue workers involved.
Why did the commission reverse its ruling on the airlift?
The commission overturned its earlier decision on Friday, stating the airlift was conducted within its lawful authority. An internal probe also found that the then deputy chief of the commission had exercised undue influence in reaching the original ruling.
What did President Lee Jae Myung say after the commission's reversal?
Lee posted on social platform X linking to the commission's decision and said the people had saved him from what he called a 'terrorist murder attempt.' He pledged: 'My life now belongs entirely to the people... Even if my body breaks down, to the very last moment, I will devote my heart and all my strength to the people.'
What was Lee Jae Myung's political position at the time of the 2024 attack?
At the time of the knife attack in January 2024, Lee was the leader of the then-main opposition Democratic Party, while former President Yoon Suk Yeol — who was later ousted — was in office.
