"I Couldn't Afford to Hire a Lawyer, So I Took on the Defense"
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is performing a bow of apology, saying "We will be reborn as a new Democratic Party," at the meeting to promote livelihood and reform legislation held on the 24th in the conference room of the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, confessed and apologized for having defended a perpetrator of dating violence in the past.
On the 24th, Lee said on his Facebook, "Last night, I had a meeting with the bereaved family of a recent dating violence victim in Yangju City." He added, "I have a painful past, so it was an even heavier moment for me. A member of my family committed a serious crime of dating violence in the past, and since the family could not afford to hire a lawyer, I, the only lawyer in the family, took on the defense."
He continued, "Since I was already a politician at the time, I hesitated a lot, but avoiding the defense was not easy. I offer my deepest condolences and apologies to the victim and the bereaved family of that case."
He further stated, "Dating violence is a serious crime that brings unhappiness to everyone and destroys lives tragically. This case is a painful memory that I can never erase from my life," and added, "No words can heal the wounds of the victims and their families."
Lee said, "I cannot fathom the pain of the two parents who buried their only daughter suddenly," and regarding the dating violence case, he pledged, "We will devise special measures for women's safety, including prevention of harm, protection of victims, and heavier punishment."
He also said, "As time passes, dating violence is not only increasing but becoming more brutal. Preventive measures such as education to avoid harm, heavier punishment for perpetrators, and special measures to protect victims must be considered," adding, "We will create a society where women, socially vulnerable groups, and all citizens are safe from violence."
Meanwhile, it is known that Lee served as the defense attorney in the first and second trials for his nephew A, who stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mother multiple times with a knife in 2006 after she broke up with him, resulting in their deaths.
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