Police to decide whether to disclose identity of opposition lawmaker's assailant

▲ The suspect behind the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is escorted into a vehicle on Jan. 4, 2024, following a court hearing in Busan. (Yonhap)

stabbing attack-police

Police to decide whether to disclose identity of opposition lawmaker's assailant

SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- Police plan to decide this week whether to disclose the identity of the suspect in the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, officials said Monday.

The 67-year-old suspect, known only by his family name Kim, was formally arrested Thursday on charges of stabbing Lee, the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), in the neck with a camping knife in the southeastern port city of Busan two days earlier.

Lee is recovering following surgery at Seoul National University Hospital to repair a major vein in his neck.

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said its identity disclosure committee will convene Tuesday to determine whether to make the suspect's personal information public.

The current law permits the disclosure of the identity of suspects in violent crimes to meet public interest and people's right to know when there is sufficient evidence backing the crime.

Police plan to make the suspect's identity immediately public if the committee decides in favor of disclosure.

(END)

<저작권자(c) 연합뉴스, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지>

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved