Won Hee-ryong "Criticized for Defending Criminals Yet Running for Public Office"
Former Lawyers Face Repeated 'Legal Career Controversy'
As controversy over the history of defending sex crime offenders continues, lawyer Jo Su-jin withdrew her candidacy for the Democratic Party of Korea in Seoul Gangbuk, while the history of Lee Geon-tae, a candidate for Gyeonggi Bucheon-byeong classified as pro-Myeong (pro-Lee Jae-myung faction), defending sex crime offenders has also come under scrutiny.
On the 22nd, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong raised his voice on his Facebook, stating that it is inappropriate for candidate Lee to run for public office given his history of defending criminals. Lee, who served as a special advisor to Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, is known to have defended individuals accused of sex crimes, including a sex trafficking broker and a perpetrator of forced sexual assault on minors, during his time as a lawyer.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (right), Lee Geon-tae, Democratic Party candidate for Bucheon City Byeong District, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Lee.
Former Minister Won said, "From leader Lee Jae-myung to those candidates, it is a 'party specializing in defending sexual violence cases,'" and added, "Following leader Lee Jae-myung, who referred to the crime of his nephew who murdered his mother and daughter as 'dating violence,' his close associate Lee Geon-tae has been actively defending criminals accused of forcibly assaulting minors, sex trafficking brokers, and perpetrators of illegal filming of women's bodies." He continued, "Criminals also have the right to legal defense," but said, "I am outraged that someone who defends such criminals and drives a nail into the hearts of female victims is running for public office."
Previously, lawyer Jo also resigned after controversy arose over her history of defending multiple sex crime offenders following her nomination for Seoul Gangbuk. The controversy over lawyers-turned-politicians defending criminals tends to repeat during election periods. Leader Lee, who has emphasized his background as a 'human rights lawyer,' also faced backlash during the last presidential election when his history of defending a nephew accused of murder became a late controversy.
However, concerns have been raised that controversies over the defense histories of candidates running for public office could ultimately infringe on the 'right to legal counsel.' The Korea Future Lawyers Association issued a statement on the 22nd expressing strong concern over the reality that lawyer candidates face excessive social criticism simply because they took on certain cases, pointing out that "if lawyers are disadvantaged based on who their past clients were, it clearly constitutes a violation of the right to defense."
They added, "The Lawyer's Code of Ethics states that lawyers shall not refuse to take a case solely because the client or the case content is socially criticized," warning, "If lawyers feel pressured by public opinion and refuse to take certain cases or resign as representatives, it will ultimately result in the infringement of the public's right to a fair trial."
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