<\/p>\n
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was recovering in intensive care after he was stabbed in the neck on Tuesday by a man who pushed through a crowd pretending to be his supporter, his party said.<\/p>\n
Lee was surrounded by journalists when a man lunged and struck him on the left side of his neck, Busan police official Son Je-han said at a press briefing.<\/p>\n
Lee was first taken to a hospital in Busan, then flown to the capital Seoul where he underwent a two-hour surgery, Kwon Chil-seung of Lee\u2019s Democratic Party told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamage to the internal jugular vein was confirmed,\u201d Kwon said.<\/p>\n
Lee was conscious after the surgery and is \u201ccurrently admitted to the intensive care unit and is recovering\u201d, Kwon added.<\/p>\n
The attacker was arrested at the scene.<\/p>\n
Police official Son told reporters that he was a man in his 60s who \u201cused an 18cm knife \u2014 its blade is 13cm long \u2014 which he purchased online\u201d.<\/p>\n
In footage aired on South Korean television stations, police were seen wrestling the suspect, who displayed a pro-Lee slogan, to the ground.<\/p>\n
South Korean authorities plan to bring attempted murder charges against the assailant, the Yonhap<\/em> news agency reported. The attacker told the police, according to Yonhap<\/em>, that his intention was to kill Lee.<\/p>\n The 59-year-old politician was \u201cwalking to his car while talking to reporters when the attacker asked for his autograph\u201d, a witness told local broadcaster YTN<\/em>.<\/p>\n