South Korea’s opposition party leader, Lee Jae-myung, has been rushed to hospital after being attacked during a visit to the southern port city of Busan, local media has reported.
According to Yonhap news agency, the leader of the Democratic Party was stabbed on the left side of his neck with a weapon that was between 20 and 30 centimentres long after visiting the site of a new airport.
Witnesses said a man posing as a supporter approached Lee and asked for an autograph before lunging forward and attacking him.
The assailant, who appeared to be wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it, was arrested at the scene, Yonhap said.
Photographs have since been released depicting Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed as those around him press a handkerchief against his neck.
Democratic Party officials have said he was conscious and recieving treatment in hospital.
The 59-year-old lost to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol in a tight presidential race in 2022.
President Yoon has denounced the attack and called for an immediate and thorough investigation, his office said.