Mark Lippert Case
By Brian Chun, Elliot Kim and Eugene Kim
Edited by Dawn Kim
Design by Nicole Yang
Edited by Dawn Kim
Design by Nicole Yang
On the morning of March 5th, Mark Lippert ,the United States ambassador of South Korea, was attacked by a man named Kim Ki-Jong during a conference. The assailant slashed Lippert with a ten- inch knife, leaving deep wounds along his neck and his left wrist. Kim, the assailant, was immediately arrested at the scene.
Ambassador Lippert was transferred to Severance Hospital receiving 80 stitches for his wound and recovering in there for 6 days until March 10th. During this period, several politicians including leaders of Saenuri party were concerned of ambassador Lippert’s condition and asked questions regarding his health. After he was discharged from the hospital, Ambassador Lippert expressed his thanks for the “extraordinary care” that he received, and showed great development in his health. The ambassador of Korea hopes to continue the relationship of South Korea and the United States not only in military aspects, but also in the “vibrant economic ties” and diplomatic partnership turned friendship between Korean and American people. He assured the public that he would “still be a 동네 아저씨, or friendly neighbor, and 세준이 아빠, “Sejun’s dad,” as he is lovingly referred to by Korean citizens. President Obama inaugurated Lippert as the ambassador of Korea on May 1st, 2014. The senate confirmed his inauguration on September 18th. Since then, he has been known as the friendly neighbor to Korean citizens and they feel comfortable with his presence as he gave his son a Korean middle name. Kim Ki-Jong is a 55 year old anti-US activist who visited North Korea several times. He believes that Korea has to be unified as one and that United States is the obstacle towards the unification. Because he screamed “No to war training” the North Koreans have acclaimed his action. The North Korean government believed that this attack was “just punishment for the US warmongers” and was a “knife attack of justice”. This has sparked some conspiracy theories that someone or an entire group is behind this attack. Kim replied that “This attack was conducted by myself.” However, many citizens still doubt his reply. The truth is yet to be revealed. |
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