[Comprehensive] 'Next Presidential Candidate No.1' Lee Jae-myung "The Presidential Election is Decided by the People... For Me, Only Provincial Administration"

Not Guilty Verdict in Retrial on June 16 for 'Forced Hospitalization of Elder Brother' Charges
Governor Lee: "Respect for the Judiciary's Wise Judgment... Will Focus on Economy"
Ranks First in Next Presidential Candidate Preference Poll

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who was sentenced to disqualification from office in the appellate court on charges of spreading false information related to the "forced hospitalization of his older brother" case but later acquitted by the Supreme Court, is attending the retrial sentencing hearing at the Suwon High Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the morning of the 16th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who was acquitted in the retrial for the charge of spreading false information related to the 'forced hospitalization of his elder brother,' apologized on the 16th to his late elder brother, the late Lee Jae-seon, saying, "Please forgive your unworthy younger brother." With this ruling, Lee, who has finally been freed from the judicial shackles that had held him back for the past two years, emphasized his future course by saying, "Only provincial administration remains," and added, "I will be evaluated by the residents through my achievements."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Lee wrote, "As I conclude the pitch-black trial process of the past two years, I want to convey words I could not say before," and said, "Third elder brother, I think not reconciling with you while you were alive will remain in my heart forever."

He added, "I hope you rest peacefully in heaven, and I ask you to take good care of our mother on behalf of the unfilial son."

Lee revealed his plan to focus on provincial administration going forward. He said, "Now, only the path of provincial administration remains for me. I will change the desperate lives of ordinary people, faithfully guarantee the basic rights of members, and confront inequality and unfairness," and emphasized, "I will be strictly evaluated by the residents through the achievements I create and the evaluations."

◆Freed from Judicial Shackles After More Than Two Years

According to multiple media reports, the Criminal Division 2 of the Suwon High Court (Presiding Judge Shim Dam) acquitted Lee in the retrial sentencing hearing held at 11 a.m. on the same day.

On the 16th, the governor apologized to his late older brother, the late Lee Jae-seon, in a post on his Facebook, saying, "Please forgive your unworthy younger brother." / Photo by Facebook capture

The court stated, "Looking at the defendant's remarks during the debate, it was merely a response to questions from the opposing candidate raising suspicions, and it cannot be seen as an act of actively publicizing widely," and added, "Since no new evidence has been submitted after the Supreme Court ruling, the judgment is made according to the binding force (the binding power that cannot arbitrarily revoke or change the Supreme Court ruling)."

Lee was accused of ordering the forced hospitalization of his elder brother in a psychiatric hospital by instructing the head of the health center and a psychiatrist in June 2012 during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam (abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights), and of making false statements during a TV debate held before the 2018 local elections, claiming that he never tried to forcibly hospitalize his elder brother (spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act).

Earlier, the first trial court acquitted him of all charges, but the second trial court found him guilty of making false statements related to the forced hospitalization of his elder brother during the debate and sentenced him to a fine of 3 million KRW. According to the current Public Official Election Act, if an elected official is finally sentenced to a fine of 1 million KRW or more, they lose their office.

However, in July, the Supreme Court overturned the original ruling that sentenced Lee to a fine of 3 million KRW in the appeal trial of the case and sent it back with a verdict of not guilty. Subsequently, in the retrial held on the 16th, Lee was acquitted in just five minutes, effectively freeing him from the judicial shackles that had held him back for nearly two years.

◆'Top Presidential Candidate' Lee Jae-myung: "The Presidential Election Is Decided by the People"

Leaving the courtroom amid supporters' cheers on the day, Lee expressed, "I pay tribute to the wise judgment of the judiciary," and said, "I will fulfill the roles and responsibilities entrusted to me for the development of Gyeonggi Province and the improvement of residents' quality of life."

At the retrial sentencing hearing, Governor Lee, who was acquitted, is coming out of the court on the 16th and responding to questions from the press. / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding his future policy direction, he emphasized, "I will focus on revitalizing the economy," and added, "I will concentrate on solving housing issues so that not only the youth but all citizens can live stable lives under minimum conditions."

When asked by reporters about his intention to run for the presidency, he replied, "The presidential election is about the people deciding what roles to entrust to their representatives, the workers," and said, "It is not decided by those who claim to be representatives, but by the people."

Meanwhile, Lee recently surpassed Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to rank first in the preference poll for presidential candidates. According to a survey conducted by the public opinion research firm 'Korea Gallup' from the 13th to the 15th among 1,001 adults nationwide, Lee received 20%, ahead of Lee Nak-yeon's 17%.