'Song Young-gil, Attacked with a Hammer, Returns Early with a Solo Campaign Rally in Yeouido on the Morning of the 8th'

Initially Planned to Join Afternoon Intensive Campaign... Schedule Changed Despite Surrounding Objections
Resuming Campaign in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Starting from Yeouido

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, holds an emergency press conference on the 25th at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was attacked with a hammer during a campaign rally, returned to the campaign site on the morning of the 8th. Originally scheduled to join the concentrated rally at Cheonggye Plaza at 6 p.m. that day, Song’s strong will to return led to the campaign schedule being moved up.

According to the Democratic Party on that day, Song first held a “one-person campaign” at Yeouido Station at 11 a.m., followed by a campaign in front of Yeouido Post Office with candidate Lee Jae-myung. At 2 p.m., he attended an event commemorating International Women’s Day, and then proceeded with concentrated rallies in Gyeyang District, Incheon, Gwanghwamun Plaza, and Cheonggye Plaza consecutively.

A Democratic Party official explained in a phone call that day, “Originally, he planned to attend the Cheonggyecheon concentrated rally, but (Song) had a strong will to attend the campaign site, so the schedule was changed.”

Song was struck with a hammer by a YouTuber at a campaign rally in Sinchon, Seoul, the previous day and was taken to the nearby Severance Hospital, where he received treatment to suture a wound on the back of his head. Although his scalp was torn and the outer bone was partially impacted, fortunately, there were no signs of skull fracture or brain hemorrhage.

On that day, Song posted on his Facebook, “I was attacked on the back of my head with a hammer, but fortunately avoided critical areas and have no brain hemorrhage, so I plan to be discharged today and participate in the campaign.” He added, “We will change the world not through violence and hatred, but through solidarity and cooperation.”

The rally at Cheonggye Plaza, starting at 6 p.m. that day, will bring together the campaign leadership including Lee Nak-yeon, the overall campaign committee chairman, Jeong Se-kyun, the standing advisor, and Chu Mi-ae, honorary campaign committee chairwoman, who will gather after finishing their respective regional campaigns.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.