DP chief Lee undergoes successful surgery after attack

“According to the medical team, he was lucky that it was the jugular vein and not the carotid artery,” Jung Chang-rae, the DP's supreme council member, said. “It was a serious situation where his life could have been in danger.”

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is taken to Seoul National University Hosptial on Tuesday after being transferred from Busan, where he was attacked. [NEWS1]

The Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung underwent successful surgery on Tuesday following a knife attack earlier in the day.

The party’s spokesperson, Kwon Chil-seung, said Lee's surgery took two hours.

The DP chief was recovering in the intensive care unit after surgery.

According to Jung Chung-rae, a member of the DP's supreme council, surgeons operated on Lee's jugular vein.

“The surgery took longer than expected,” Jung said. “But the surgery is finally over.”

Jung emphasized the severity of the attack on Lee.

“According to the medical team, he was lucky that it was the jugular vein and not the carotid artery,” Jung said. “It was a serious situation where his life could have been endangered.”

The DP lawmaker expressed concern about the attack, calling it a serious challenge to democracy.

Lee, was attacked at 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday while visiting the site of a future international airport on Gadeok Island in Busan.

He was initially taken to Pusan National University Hospital but transferred to Seoul National University Hospital at 1 p.m.

Jung said the decision to transfer Lee to Seoul was made at the request of his family.

The assailant is taken to a police station in Busan on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

According to the emergency team, Lee suffered a 1-centimeter wound to the left side of his neck.

A 67-year-old — identified only by his family name of Kim — attacked the DP leader with a knife he purchased from the internet.

He told police he intended to kill Lee.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]