South Korea’s Busan District Court sentenced a man to 15 years in prison on Friday for attempting to murder Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and for violating the Public Official Election Act, according to reports from local media.

The court, presided over by Judge Kim Yong-gyun, highlighted the severity of the crime, describing it as “not only an attempt to deprive an individual of the right to life but also attacking the victim regarding the parliamentary election, thus obstructing election freedom.”

The verdict noted the premeditated nature of the attack, including the assailant practicing stabbing motions and following Lee to five public events. The assailant, whose identity was not disclosed but was identified by the police as a 67-year-old man named Mr. Kim, was placed on probation for five years and was identified as a repeat offender. The court further questioned whether the defendant’s belated apology showed genuine remorse, given Kim’s attitude of comparing himself to an independent fighter and his insistence on the motive for the crime.

The court has given both the defense and prosecution one week to appeal the decision.

The attack occurred in January when the assailant approached Lee, pretending to ask him for an autograph before stabbing him in the neck with a knife. Upon his arrest, Kim told police he intended to kill Lee to keep him from becoming South Korea’s president. The attack left Lee needing surgery and hospitalization for eight days, after which he publicly called for an end to “politics of hatred” in the country.

South Korea’s presidential elections will be held in 2027. Lee remains a prominent contender despite being indicted last month on bribery charges. Lee denied the charges, and his party claimed the timing was politically motivated.