Man who stabbed South Korean opposition leader sentenced to 15 years in prison

A man who stabbed South Korea's opposition leader in the neck earlier this year was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison, court officials said.

The knife-wielding man attacked Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, in January after asking him for an autograph at an event in the southeastern city of Busan.

Mr Lee was reportedly injured and collapsed on the ground following the attack. He was hospitalised for eight days for surgery and other treatment.

Police said the 67-year-old man, whose name has not been released, told investigators he wanted to kill Mr Lee to prevent him from becoming South Korea's president.

He said he was unhappy with the lack of progress in corruption investigations into the politician. Mr Lee is on trial on corruption charges he denies.

Leaving a Seoul hospital later in January, Mr Lee expressed hope for an end to the “politics of hate” in South Korea.

The Busan District Court said the man was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of attempted murder and violating an election law.

The verdict called the attack a “serious challenge” to the country's representative democracy and an act that “significantly destroys social consensus and trust in core liberal democratic principles,” according to Yonhap news agency.

The verdict said the attacker had long hated Mr Lee because of political differences, had practiced stabbing him in the neck in advance and followed him to five public events.

Prosecutors had initially sought a 20-year prison sentence for the attacker.

The court said the man and prosecutors have one week to appeal.

Attack on Lee was 'terrorist act,' president says

Democratic Party officials had earlier confirmed that the attacker had become a member last year.

The ruling People's Power Party (PPP) said he was not currently a member of that party, but media reports said the man, identified only by his surname Kim, was previously affiliated with the party's predecessor.

The Democratic Party of Korea is the largest political party in the country.