U.S. envoy Lippert to be released from hospital

By Park Sojung SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert will be released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon as he is now able to be treated from home for a knife injury he sustained in an attack last week, hospital officials said. Jung Nam-shik, head of Yonsei University Health System, said Lippert was to leave Severance Hospital between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., but the exact time would need to be confirmed by the U.S. Embassy. All the stitches on his face have been removed. Lippert continues to experience pain in his left wrist, but it has subsided to the point where it can be treated with a mild painkiller, Jung said. His left arm, however, will need to be sterilized regularly to prevent infection. Lippert was slashed on his face and wrist last week by a knife-wielding South Korean man who attacked him at a breakfast function in downtown Seoul. Kim Ki-jong was arrested on the scene and has been detained on various charges included attempted murder. Authorities are continuing their probe to determine whether Kim has violated South Korea's National Security Law, which bans people from openly praising North Korea. About a dozen books were found in Kim's home that are suspected of being dangerously pro-North Korea in nature, including "On the Art of Cinema" written by late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. South Korea remains technically at war with rival North Korea. The 28,500 U.S. troops stationed here have been a thorny issue for anti-U.S. activists. Lippert, 42, is the youngest U.S. ambassador to South Korea. He took office last October and gave birth to a son here. His son was given a Korean middle name. sojungpark@yna.co.kr (END)