Police decide against revealing identity of Lee stabbing suspect

Police decided not to disclose the personal information of the suspect who stabbed Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung during the opposition leader’s visit to Busan on Jan. 2.

Following a Personal Information Disclosure Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency decided that the 67-year-old suspect, identified by his surname Kim, did not meet the legal conditions for disclosure.

Kim was formally arrested by the police on charges of attempted murder after stabbing Lee in the neck with a camping knife during Lee’s visit to a construction site for an airport on Gadeok Island, near Busan. Lee sustained a cut that was 1 centimeter in width and was airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital for surgery and hospitalization.

By law, the Personal Information Disclosure Committee is required to disclose the identity of suspects involved in violent crimes after considering the cruelty of the crime, the possibility of recidivism and the public’s right to know.

The committee -- consisting of three internal members of the police and four external experts -- said in a joint statement that two-thirds of the committee voted against disclosing the suspect’s identity and other personal information as Kim’s case did not meet the conditions for disclosure. The reasons behind the committee’s decision, however, were not disclosed.

After Kim’s arrest, the police set up an investigation unit focused on proving that the stabbing was premeditated by looking into Kim’s motives and his movements before the crime occurred. The police found that Kim had modified a camping knife that he purchased online in April by sharpening it and that he had been carrying the weapon while following Lee throughout his trip in Busan, since Jan. 1.

While being questioned by police, Kim reportedly stated that he had the “intention to kill” Lee and that he was a political party member. Local media reported that Kim had allegedly become a member of the Democratic Party as a part of his ambush scheme in April 2023. Police decided not to reveal Kim’s political party affiliation per the Political Parties Act.

Police plan to send the case to prosecution after releasing its final investigation results on Wednesday.

The police also added that they have released a man in his 70s who was detained on suspicion of aiding and abetting Kim.

On Sunday, the man was placed under emergency detention on suspicion of assisting Kim in the crime. The man has reportedly agreed to send a letter on behalf of Kim explaining the motives behind the crime and Kim's political beliefs to an unspecified location. Police officials said that the man was let go as his involvement in the crime was minor and because he was not directly involved in the crime.

Meanwhile, according to Lee's aide, Rep. Kwon Hyuk-ki, Lee will be discharged from the hospital according to the hospital’s decision on Wednesday, as Lee’s condition has “improved greatly.” After being discharged from the hospital, Lee will return home and receive treatment there. The exact date as to when Lee will return to his parliamentary duties has not yet been decided.