by REERA YOO | @reeaboo
editor@charactermedia.com
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was discharged from Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital on Tuesday after he was knifed by a radical nationalist, reports Yonhap News Agency.
“I feel pretty darn good,” Lippert said prior to leaving the hospital. “I want to express my profound gratitude to those Koreans and Americans alike who so bravely, gratefully and selflessly responded to the scene of the attack and the medical team that delivered a world-class treatment.”
Lippert denied commenting on the security tactics at the time of the attack, citing U.S. national concerns.
Kim Ki-jong, a 55-year-old leftist activist, slashed the U.S. envoy’s face and left arm at a breakfast forum in central Seoul last Thursday. Lippert suffered a deep gash across his right cheek and cuts on his arm. He underwent a two-hour surgery and received 80 stitches to close his face wound.
Kim was arrested at the scene and has been detained on multiple charges, including attempted murder. During questioning, Kim claimed that he attacked the U.S. ambassador to protest against the annual joint military drills between Seoul and Washington.
According to South Korean media, Kim had traveled to North Korea seven times between 1999 and 2007. He also attempted to erect an altar in Seoul to honor the memory of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2011.
Police raided Kim’s home last week and uncovered materials that indicated his pro-North Korean views, including a book written by Kim Jong-il titled, On the Art of Cinema. Authorities are still continuing their investigation to determine whether Kim has violated the National Security Law.
Lippert was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea in October. Since arriving in Seoul last fall, he has become a popular ambassador among the South Korean people, as he often posts updates on social media and regularly delivers speeches.
___
Featured image via Agence France-Presse
