South Korea’s opposition leader Lee Jae-myung who was attacked and injured by an unidentified man on Tuesday has been rushed to the hospital and was brought conscious, the state media is reporting. The emergency officials from the southeastern city of Busan said in a statement that the official was on a visit to the city when the incident unfolded. Lee was stabbed with a knife like weapon while he was visiting a construction site of a new airport in the city, reports say.

As per the state affiliated South Korean media, Lee was stabbed in his neck and was bleeding when he was taken to the hospital for treatment. The official lost the 2022 presidential election to President Yoon Suk Yeol last year. Yonhap reported that the assailant was wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it and attacked him on the left side of his neck while he was about to deliver a press statement. At first, the man approached Lee asking for an autograph. He then moved forward and stabbed the politician. The man was subdued and arrested at the scene.

In the photographs from the scene, Lee lay on the ground with injury with his eyes closed and people around him pressed a handkerchief on his neck. The Chief of the Democratic Party of South Korea was rushed to the medical facility. The attack was condemned by South Korean President Yoon who called it ‘unacceptable,’ as per statement published by his office. Yoon expressed concerns about Lee’s health and wished for a speedy recovery, his office added.