Discharged from hospital, DP chief urges end to politics of hate

Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung said it is time to put an end to politics driven by hatred as he was discharged from the hospital Wednesday, eight days after he was stabbed in the neck.

Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung speaks to reporters as he is discharged from Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno District, central Seoul, Wednesday, after he was stabbed in the neck last week. [YONHAP]

Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung said it is time to put an end to politics driven by hatred as he was discharged from the hospital Wednesday, eight days after he was stabbed in the neck.

"I sincerely hope that this incident, which shocked everyone, will become a milestone to end the politics of hatred and confrontation and restore proper politics of mutual respect and coexistence," Lee told reporters upon his release from the Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul.

"It is time to put an end to warlike politics, where one must kill and eliminate one's opponent."

In a shocking attack on Jan. 2, Lee was stabbed in his left neck with a knife by a 67-year-old man, identified only as Kim, during a visit to Busan.

The DP chief, who suffered a 1.4-centimeter (0.55-inch) wound, was airlifted to Seoul and underwent surgery for a laceration in a vein in his neck at Seoul National University Hospital later that day.

On Wednesday morning, Lee was greeted by cheers from his supporters shouting his name as he left the hospital, where he had received treatment for the past week. He was spotted with a bandage covering his neck wound.

He first apologized for causing concern to the public and thanked them for their support.

"With this life that the people have saved, I will live the rest of my life only for the people," Lee said to a crowd of supporters and reporters. "I will repay by creating a world where everyone lives together, a country where everyone is happy and dreams of hope."

He hoped that "proper politics will be restored where we respect, acknowledge and compromise with each other."

Lee added that he plans to "first reflect and work hard to return to the politics of living that creates hope."

He also thanked Busan's citizens, police and fire authorities and the medical staff at Pusan National University Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital for saving his life with "appropriate and prompt emergency measures in an urgent situation."

However, Lee didn't directly address the backlash he and the DP faced in Busan after being transferred from Pusan National University Hospital to Seoul via a two-hour helicopter ride.

Despite sustaining the injury on Busan's Gadeok Island, a new airport construction site, the move to a top hospital in Seoul was seen by locals as undermining regional medical services, particularly a leading trauma center. Critics raised doubts about the severity of the attack and whether the decision to relocate Lee to a major hospital in Seoul was warranted.

On Monday, doctors filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office against the DP, alleging obstruction of business for both Pusan National University Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital.

Since last week, 14 doctors' advocacy groups released statements condemning the DP for allegedly abusing its political power and undermining the regional medical system.

Lee will continue his recovery at home in Gyeyang District, Incheon, for now, according to DP officials. He has not yet revealed when he will return to work.

Party officials indicated Lee will prioritize his health, but political observers point out the DP chief will likely try to resume his duties sooner rather than later taking into consideration the difficulties facing the party.

Lee was spotted sending text messages to DP Rep. Jung Sung-ho, a close aide, on Tuesday discussing disciplinary action for Hyun Geun-taek, a party member and vice president of the Institute for Democracy, who has been accused of sexually harassing the secretary of a local politician recently.

Lee ordered an ethics review on Hyun, indicating he remotely managed party affairs.

The DP has suffered from internal division ahead of the April 10 general elections as lawmakers within the party who oppose Lee have splintered from the DP. Such lawmakers have questioned Lee's ability to unify and lead the party to victory against the conservative People Power Party (PPP) in the upcoming parliamentary elections and pass judgment on the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

From left, Democratic Party Reps. Cho Eung-cheon, Lee Won-wook and Kim Jong-min hold a press conference at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Wednesday to announce their departure from the party. [YONHAP]

Earlier Wednesday, three DP lawmakers opposed to Lee announced they would leave the party, disillusioned with the chairman's unwillingness to listen.

Reps. Cho Eung-cheon, Kim Jong-min, and Lee Won-wook held a press conference at the National Assembly announcing they would defect. However, a fourth group member, Rep. Yoon Young-chan, a first-term lawmaker, decided to remain in the DP.

"We must judge and hold the Yoon Suk Yeol administration accountable for its self-righteousness, incompetence and irresponsibility," Rep. Kim said in the press conference. "However, we can't pass judgment on the Yoon administration under the current Lee Jae-myung regime."

Kim noted that Lee had disregarded advice from three former prime ministers, including Lee Nak-yon, regarding the reform of election rules.

He warned that the DP is "simply calling for unity centered on Chairman Lee Jae-myung" and will "ultimately fail to pass judgment on the Yoon administration" at the current pace.

"We must break down the vested interests of bulletproof politics, hegemony, hostility, incompetence and monopoly," Kim said, and "move toward a politics of national integration, solidarity and coalition that pool the people's capabilities."

Lee has been facing legal woes for his alleged involvement in a land development scandal in Gyeonggi during his time as Seongnam mayor and an underwear company's illegal remittance to North Korea during his time as Gyeonggi governor, a distraction for the DP chief and his party.

Former DP chief Lee Nak-yon, a former prime minister, previously announced he would officially leave the party on Thursday. He has signaled plans to launch his own political party.

At the end of last year, the former prime minister attempted to talk with Lee Jae-myung, offering an ultimatum for him to step down as DP chairman and agree to a joint interim leadership committee ahead of the general elections. However, DP chief Lee rejected this offer.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]