Opposition chief Lee Jae-myung was handed a suspended one-year jail sentence Friday for allegedly making false statements through the 2022 presidential marketing campaign — a ruling that, if upheld, may price him his parliamentary seat and derail his presidential ambitions.
Lee, chairman of the principle opposition Democratic Celebration of Korea and a distinguished probably contender in South Korea’s 2027 presidential race, introduced plans to attraction the ruling, saying the court docket’s conclusions have been “not acceptable.”
The Seoul Central District Courtroom delivered its sentence of 1 12 months in jail suspended for 2 years, discovering Lee responsible of constructing false statements in violation of the Public Official Election Act.
The court docket said, “Making false statements to voters through the election course of can distort and injury public opinion, making the crime significantly severe.”
“The offenses on this case have been dedicated beneath the guise of clarifying suspicions directed on the defendant. By using broadcast media, the influence was substantial,” the court docket added.
Beneath the Public Official Election Act, if Lee’s suspended sentence is upheld, he’ll lose his parliamentary seat and be barred from operating for workplace for the subsequent 10 years, making a presidential bid unattainable.
The Democratic Celebration additionally should return the 43.4 billion received ($31 million) in election bills for which it was reimbursed by the Nationwide Election Fee within the final presidential election.
Lee was discovered responsible of falsely claiming throughout a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial authorities in October 2021 that the choice to rezone a inexperienced belt space so it could possibly be utilized in a residential growth challenge in Seongnam’s Baekhyeon-dong district within the mid-2010s was the results of coercion by the Land Ministry.
The court docket dominated that this declare constituted a false assertion and the dissemination of false data, stating, “It seems that Lee reviewed and selected the rezoning of Baekhyeon-dong independently slightly than being compelled by the calls for of the Land Ministry.”
The positioning was later developed into condo complexes by a non-public developer, and allegations have been raised that Lee rezoned the land to offer preferential therapy to the corporate.
The court docket additional famous, “The accountable officers in Seongnam Metropolis testified that there was no strain or threats, or that they didn’t bear in mind any. Subsequently, it can’t be thought of that the Land Ministry coerced them. Lee’s statements concerning Baekhyeon-dong are judged to be false.”
Nevertheless, Lee was discovered not responsible of constructing false statements throughout a December 2021 tv interview by which he claimed he didn’t know the late Kim Moon-ki, an official with an alleged function in a separate scandal.
The court docket dominated that “Lee’s assertion that he ‘didn’t know Kim Moon-ki’ is certainly false, however it’s troublesome to think about it the dissemination of false data.”
Kim was a senior official at a state-run firm overseeing land growth in Daejang-dong, Gyeonggi Province, throughout Lee’s tenure as mayor of Seongnam. The Daejang-dong growth challenge, led by Seongnam Improvement Corp., grew to become the middle of main controversy.
Allegations surfaced through the 2022 presidential race that the Seongnam metropolis authorities granted favors to a non-public developer, enabling them to safe the profitable Daejang-dong condo challenge and reap substantial income. In December 2021, amid an ongoing investigation, Kim was discovered lifeless in his workplace, intensifying the suspicions surrounding the challenge and Lee’s involvement.
After the trial, Lee instructed reporters, “The conclusion is just not acceptable, even in its primary recognition of details,” and added, “I’ll attraction.”
“The court docket of public sentiment and historical past is everlasting. If the individuals make their judgment primarily based on widespread sense and justice, I imagine the conclusion is a straightforward one,” Lee stated, underscoring that “There are nonetheless two extra rounds left within the courtroom.”
As the primary of 4 authorized battles Lee is at the moment dealing with, this trial’s consequence is taken into account significantly vital, with the potential to influence his personal political management and form the broader political panorama in South Korea.
The chair of the ruling Individuals Energy Celebration, Han Dong-hoon stated on Friday, “We respect and commend the judiciary’s choice, which was made in accordance with the legislation,” including, “The Individuals Energy Celebration will stand with the individuals to uphold the independence and equity of the judiciary.”
In a press release, PPP chief spokesperson Shin Dong-wook stated, “Justice has prevailed.”
