U.S. envoy to S. Korea discharged from hospital after knife attack

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was discharged from hospital on Tuesday after suffering a knife attack by a South Korean activist last week.

The youngest-ever U.S. envoy to Seoul was slashed in his face and hand on March 5 by an anti-American activist while he was preparing for a lecture at a function in central Seoul. Lippert, 42, took office in October last year.

The knife-wielding attack caused big gash in his face about 11 centimeters long and 3 centimeters deep. Lippert underwent surgery right after the incident, and the 80 stitches on his face were removed before leaving hospital.

"I was deeply moved by warm and generous sentiment (toward him from American people)... And deeply moved by outpouring support from (South Korean people)," Lippert said in a nationally televised press conference right before coming back to the U.S. embassy from Severance Hospital where he was treated.

After expressing his gratitude toward a lot of people, including U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Lippert said he will "never, never forget" the support from the South Koreans.

Lippert said the incident "only strengthened (his) love and affection for the country" and confirmed "unbreakable bonds between the United States and South Korea."

Citing South Korea's old adage "After a rain comes a hard soil" in Korean language, which means after a storm comes a calm, Lippert said he will work hard to strengthen U.S.-South Korea alliance in terms of military line, economic and diplomatic partnerships, and deep friendship between American and South Korean people. Endi