Seoul, March 10 (IANS): US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, who was hospitalised after being attacked by an anti-American activist, was discharged on Tuesday.

Last Thursday, a South Korean activist slashed him in the face and wrist to protest joint military drills between South Korea and the US, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Lippert expressed his "profound gratitude" for the overwhelming support he received from South Koreans and Americans.

"I want to express my profound gratitude to those Koreans and Americans alike who so bravely, gratefully and selflessly responded to the scene of the attack," Lippert told reporters before he left the hospital.

The envoy also stressed that relations between South Korea and the US will remain as strong as ever, as officials from both countries have already agreed.

Lippert spent five days at Yonsei University's Severance Hospital, where officials said he will continue to receive treatment from home.

The assailant, Kim Ki-Jong, has been detained on charges of attempted murder, violence against a foreign envoy and obstruction of business.

Kim said he assaulted the ambassador to alert the US to "the fact that it hinders inter-Korean reunification".

He denied he intended to murder the envoy.