[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 26th, regarding his past role as a defense attorney in a dating violence murder case committed by his nephew, "It is a heartbreaking matter, and I apologize once again."
On the same day, Lee met with reporters and said, "All victims of crimes feel wronged," but added, "I handled the matter of a relative who is not someone I can say is distant from me, and I expressed my regret and feelings of injustice." He continued, "I defended because I am a lawyer. It is a tragic matter. It is heartbreaking, and I apologize again."
Earlier, on the 25th, Lee posted on his Facebook, "One of my relatives committed a serious crime of dating violence in the past, but the family was not in a position to hire a lawyer, so as the only lawyer in the family, I had no choice but to take on the defense," and expressed "deep condolences and apologies to the victim and the bereaved family." He also stated, "This case is a painful memory that I can never erase in my lifetime. No words can heal the wounds of the victim and the bereaved," and announced plans to devise special measures against dating violence.
The "serious dating violence crime" Lee referred to is the "mother and daughter murder case" that occurred in May 2006 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. At that time, Lee's nephew, Kim (surname withheld), went to the house where his ex-girlfriend lived and stabbed her and her mother multiple times with a weapon, killing them. The Supreme Court confirmed a life sentence. Lee served as the defense attorney for his nephew during the first and second trials, and reportedly argued for a reduced sentence by claiming that his nephew was in a state of diminished mental capacity due to impaired impulse control.
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