A well-wisher has tried to offer dog meat to injured US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, as he recovers from an attack by a knife-wielding anti-US activist.

The man arrived at Seoul’s Severance Hospital with a package that he said was dog meat and seaweed soup.

South Koreans commonly offer dog meat to patients recovering from surgery based on old beliefs that it helps heal wounds.

A dog lover, Mr Lippert, 42, had been regularly seen walking his basset hound, Grigsby, near his residence in Seoul before the attack on Thursday.

The hospital plans to remove the 80 stitches on Mr Lippert’s face through separate procedures tomorrow and on Tuesday. Hospital officials said he may experience sensory problems in his left hand for several months.