South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is back at work, 15 days after he was stabbed during a visit to the south-eastern city of Busan, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Jan 17.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly in Seoul, Mr Lee thanked those who helped with his recovery.

He also pledged to fulfil his responsibilities as the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party.

“I will do my best to fulfil the responsibilities given to me. I was able to come back to work thanks to so many people. Thank you,” he said.

Mr Lee was stabbed in the neck on Jan 2 while he was touring the site of a proposed airport.

The attacker was a 60-year-old man who came forward on the pretext of asking for an autograph. He later told the police he stabbed Mr Lee because he did not want the politician to become president. Mr Lee narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election in South Korea.

After he was stabbed, Mr Lee was taken to a hospital in Busan for emergency treatment. He was later airlifted to Seoul, where he underwent surgery.

On Jan 16, the state anti-corruption agency said it was investigating whether there was any favour involved in airlifting Mr Lee, the Korea Times reported.

Questions had been raised about whether it was necessary to airlift Mr Lee since he could have been treated at the hospital in Busan.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said it had received multiple requests to determine if the helicopter transport was a result of favouritism.

“Considering the high level of public interest in this case and the citizens’ right to know, we have accepted the reports and launched an investigation,” the Korea Times quoted Mr Jeong Seung-yoon, vice-chairman of the commission, as saying in a press briefing.