An assassination attempt on main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday has brought to the forefront concerns about the health and direction of the nation’s political culture.

Following the attack, local media and online commentators quickly began speculating about which party might benefit electorally, the assailant’s potential political affiliation and the impact on Lee’s position within his party. Some commentators even delved into unverified conspiracy theories.

However, experts speaking to Korea Prosuggest that these immediate reactions miss the more critical issue. They assess that the most pressing problem is that the incident indicates a deteriorating political