By Lee Kyung-min
A district court Friday sentenced Kim Ki-jong, who attacked U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert in March, to 12 years in prison, but cleared him of espionage charges.
Kim was indicted in April for slashing Lippert's face and hand with a 25-centimeter knife at a breakfast seminar in central Seoul on March 5. Lippert sustained an 11-centimeter cut on the right side of his face that required 80 stitches.
The Seoul Central District Court found Kim guilty of attempted murder, obstruction of business and assaulting a foreign envoy, saying Kim deserves harsh punishment for using violence to meet his goals, adding this is the first case involving a serious injury to a foreign envoy here.
“The world was shocked and diplomatic relations between Korea and the U.S. could have been put in jeopardy due to his action,” the judge said in a ruling.
The court rejected Kim’s claim that the assault was an accident and he did not have the intent to kill, saying the injury could have been fatal.
“The depth of the 11-centimeter cut was as deep as three centimeters, which narrowly missed the artery in the neck,” the judge said.
“Kim claimed that he merely had attempted to threaten Lippert, and had not swung the knife with full force. But, slashing a knife towards a person in the direction of the face and neck in no way can be taken lightly,” the judge added.
The court also recognized that the act was premeditated because Kim attended the meeting knowing that the ambassador was expected there.
On March 2, three days before the incident, Kim planned his attack by conducting online research at the National Assembly library about the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops to Seoul and measures to stop joint military exercises with the United States here. He also made leaflets about those subjects, according to the judges.
However, the court acquitted Kim on charges of violating the National Security Law which bans open support or praising of North Korea.
Prosecutors added the charge after seizing pro-North materials at Kim's home, suggesting Kim’s attack followed the North's accusation that U.S.-Korea joint military exercises are war rehearsals for an attack against the reclusive nation.
“His act did not pose an imminent threat grave enough to overthrow the whole country and paralyze its system,” the judge said.
The prosecution, which originally sought a 15-year prison term, will soon decide whether to appeal.