South Korea politician stabbing adds to tension ahead of elections

Lee Jae-myung is a polarizing leader with both fervent supporters and detractors

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Reporters and supporters of Lee Jae-myung gather outside an emergency treatment facility at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul on Jan. 2 after the politician was stabbed in the neck. (Photo by Steven Borowiec)

STEVEN BOROWIEC, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- Tensions ran high on Tuesday as a crowd convened outside the entrance to an emergency room in Seoul where South Korea's most prominent opposition politician was airlifted after being stabbed in the neck. 

Groups of supporters jostled with news crews and YouTubers using selfie sticks to live stream broadcasts from the scene. Shouting matches intermittently broke out as police attempted to keep the crowds from spilling onto the road.

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