Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myeong was stabbed during his visit to the site of the new international airport on Gadeok Island in Busan on Tuesday.

A man in his 50s, wearing a blue paper crown, stabbed the Democratic Party leader in the neck from behind with a 30-centimeter-long (one-foot-long) sharp object at 10:27 a.m.

According to witness accounts, the man approached the DP chief as a supporter of the party while carrying a picket that read "200 seats at the National Assembly."

The assailant allegedly attacked the DP chief after his request for Lee to sign an autograph was denied.

Lee was stabbed on the left side of his neck and he was rushed to the emergency room at Busan National University Hospital.