Knife attacker of opposition leader Lee appeals 15-yr prison sentence

The knife attacker of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has appealed the 15-year prison term he received for the January stabbing in Busan that left Lee hospitalized, saying the punishment is too heavy. The Busan District Court sentenced the 67-year-old attacker, surnamed Kim, to 15 years in prison earlier this month, condemning his knife attack as a "serious attempt to undermine" the election system and representative democracy. Posing as a supporter asking for a signature, Kim approached the Democratic Party chair and stabbed him in the neck during Lee's visit to the southeastern port city of Busan on Jan. 2. He has since said he committed the attack to prevent Lee from becoming president. Lee was hospitalized for eight days for blood vessel reconstruction surgery and recovery. Kim and his lawyer submitted their respective appeals against the sentence to the Busan court on Thursday and Friday, arguing that the term is unfairly heavy. Prosecutors, who had demanded a 20-year prison term for Kim, have also filed an appeal against the sentence. Source: Yonhap News Agency