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Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea’s top opposition Democratic Party, is taken to Seoul National University Hospital on Jan. 2 after being stabbed in the neck by an assailant while on a visit to Busan. (Yonhap)

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant while visiting Busan on Tuesday.

It is truly shocking to see this kind of barbaric act of violence perpetrated in broad daylight against the leader of South Korea’s largest opposition party. Extremism in politics and hatred for their political opponents now appear to have reached a point where people are engaging in out-and-out physical attacks.

On Tuesday morning, Lee had just finished visiting the site of a planned new airport on Busan’s Gadeok Island when he was stabbed in the left side of his neck by a man in his 60s who had disguised himself as a supporter. Lee was immediately rushed to a hospital.

The attacker approached Lee to ask for an autograph on a book before stabbing the Democratic Party leader with a weapon he had brought to the scene. The same man was also reportedly observed at a roundtable of Busan-area housing deposit fraud victims attended by Lee last month.

The attacker appears to have plotted to get close to Lee by impersonating a die-hard supporter following him to different locations. He also reportedly told police that he had intended to kill Lee.

Matters such as the exact motive for the attack and other parties who may have been involved are things that will need to be determined through a meticulous investigation. One thing is clear, though: We need to reflect on how things in South Korea have reached a point where we need to be worried about political terrorism.

The last presidential election was marked by intense antagonism between people of different political identifications. Even within those blocs, members frequently directed hateful comments on others holding different views. It is deeply dismaying to see this sort of hatred toward others escalating into actual physical attacks.

Before this attack on Lee Jae-myung, there was another during the last election, where then-Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil was struck on the head and injured by a hammer-wielding YouTuber while campaigning.

The basic principle of democracy is the use of dialogue and compromise to resolve conflict and differences of opinion. Violence against politicians is unacceptable under any circumstances because it threatens this cornerstone of democracy.

Not only that, but the political landscape is likely to become even more chaotic and intense as the election on April 10 draws nearer. This raises the specter of other attacks arising as the politics of hatred escalate.

Certain politicians who have routinely engaged in irresponsible and hateful remarks need to reflect on their own actions and their responsibility for this situation.

The attack on Lee Jae-myung is all the more shocking because it was a premeditated attempt on the life of a major politician. Since politicians inevitably come into contact with voters ahead of an election, this leaves them in a situation where they now have to worry about their very safety.

In addition to taking preventive measures to ensure no one else’s life is endangered, politicians need to stop encouraging division and hostility so that we can prevent additional tragedies from occurring.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]