15-Year Prison Sentence for Assailant in Knife Attack on Lee Jae-myung Upheld by Appellate Court.

Busan: An appellate court on Wednesday upheld a 15-year prison sentence for the assailant in a knife attack on opposition leader Lee Jae-myung early this year. The decision confirms the initial ruling given in July against the 67-year-old assailant, known by his surname Kim, who attacked Lee during a visit to Busan on January 2nd.According to Yonhap News Agency, the Busan High Court rejected Kim's appeal, maintaining that the sentence was "fully acceptable" due to the severity of the crime. The court noted that Kim attempted to justify his actions and concealed evidence related to the attack, which significantly impacted the ruling. Furthermore, the court highlighted the "heavy" responsibility Kim bears, as his actions were seen as an attempt to disrupt free and fair elections, particularly ahead of the parliamentary elections.Kim faced charges of attempted murder and violating election laws, underscoring the gravity of his actions. The attack resulted in Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, being hospitalized for eight days as a result of the neck injury he sustained.