South Korea opposition chief stabbed in neck, recovering after surgery

FILE PHOTO: South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party admits defeat in the election at the party's headquarters, in Seoul, South Korea, March 10, 2022. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck on Tuesday by a man who lunged at him with a knife after asking for his autograph, officials said.

Lee, 59, was rushed to hospital, where he underwent surgery to repair a major blood vessel, and was later recovering and conscious in an intensive care unit, party spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung told reporters.