S.Korean president visits US envoy in hospital

South Korean President Park Geun-hye (L) talks with US ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert during her visits to a hospital where he is being treated after a knife attack, in Seoul in this handout picture provided by The Blue House and released by Yonhap on March 9, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday visited US Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert, who is in hospital after being attacked by an anti-American activist, right after ending her nine-day travel to the Middle East, the presidential office said.

Lippert was slashed last Thursday in his face and hand with a 25-centimenter-long knife by 55-year-old South Korean activist Kim Ki-Jong, who was arrested on various charges including attempted murder.

While being arrested, Kim shouted opposition to the ongoing US-South Korea joint annual military exercises, code-named "Key Resolve" and "Foal Eagle" that kicked off last Monday.

Lippert showing fast recovery from his gash is expected to be discharged Tuesday, leading President Park to visit the Yonsei University's Severance Hospital where the US envoy is being treated.

Park came back to Seoul on Monday morning after visiting four Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for nine days.

On Thursday when the incident happened, President Park called Lippert and expressed her wishes for his speedy recovery. Lippert took office in October last year as the youngest-ever US ambassador to Seoul.

Park experienced a similar attack with Lippert in May 2006 when Park, then ruling party's chief, was slashed in her face with a 10-centimeter-long razor by a South Korean man.