US Ambassador to South Korea Leaves Hospital, Ready to Return to Work

Lippert underwent surgery and received 80 stitches in a Seoul hospital after an assailant slashed his face and hand on March 4 as the ambassador was about to deliver a speech at a Sejong Hall breakfast meeting in Seoul.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, who had been attacked by an assailant with a knife in Seoul, said at a news conference on Tuesday that he received the needed hospital care and intended to return to work soon.

“Thanks in large measure to the extraordinary care I received these last few days, I expect to be able to return to work very soon and eventually make a full recovery,” Lippert said after his release from a Seoul hospital.

The ambassador thanked the Koreans and Americans who had responded on the scene of the attack.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told journalists on March 6 that the Korean National Police Agency had enhanced Lippert’s security by assigning additional officers to guard him.

“This incident has only strengthened our love and affection for this country,” Lippert said. “I feel pretty darn good, all things considered — it was obviously a scary incident.”

The Korean government is leading the investigation into the attack, and is closely coordinating its activities with the US Embassy in Seoul.

Lippert has served as US Ambassador to South Korea since October 20, 2014.