Lee "Does Not Know Late Kim Moon-gi" Accused of Spreading False Information
Judicial Risk Emerges... Loss of Assembly Seat if Fine Exceeds 1 Million Won
Han Junho "Being Unreasonable" Park Gyuntaek "Will Be Acquitted"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will face the sentencing trial for the violation of the Public Official Election Act on the afternoon of the 20th. The first trial verdict is expected to be announced as early as October. According to the Public Official Election Act, if a fine of 1 million won or more is imposed, the parliamentary seat is forfeited, drawing attention to the extent of the sentence the prosecution will seek against Lee.
Lee is accused of disseminating false information with the intent to win during his 2021 presidential candidacy. In a broadcast interview during the presidential campaign, he stated that he "did not know" about the late Kim Moon-gi, former head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, during his tenure as mayor. Regarding allegations that the land use of the Korea Food Research Institute site in Baekhyeon-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do was changed as a 'special favor,' he claimed that he "was instructed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and was threatened with accusations of dereliction of duty if he did not comply." The prosecution considers these statements to be false.
The sentencing hearing for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act by spreading false statements during the last presidential election, was held on the 20th at the Seoul Central District Court. Lee is greeting the Supreme Council members who came to support him. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@
On the morning of the trial, the questioning of the defendant, which was not completed on the previous date, will continue. In the sentencing trial for the violation of the Public Official Election Act held in the afternoon, after the prosecution presents its sentencing opinion, the defense's final argument and Lee's final statement are scheduled. On the 30th, the trial related to the perjury coaching case will conclude. Among the four criminal trials this month, the first trials for two cases will end, marking the full emergence of the 'judicial risk' that had been considered a weakness for Lee.
The Democratic Party is responding on a party-wide level, including holding a meeting of the Committee for Countermeasures Against Prosecutorial Dictatorship Political Oppression (Geomdokwi) on the same day. Han Jun-ho, chairman of Geomdokwi, said in a phone interview, "I think the Public Official Election Act is being applied unreasonably," adding, "If you listen to the unedited recordings, there really is no content regarding the perjury coaching part." Park Gyun-taek, a member of the party and former 'Daejangdong lawyer,' said about the Public Official Election Act case, "I believe he is innocent," and "It does not meet the elements of spreading false information."
The People Power Party emphasized a "fair judgment." On the same day, floor leader Chu Kyung-ho stated, "I hope the first trial court will deliver a fair judgment based on law and common sense without any political calculation." Ham Woon-kyung, the People Power Party’s district committee chair for Mapo-gu Eul, Seoul, held a press conference urging a guilty verdict for Lee.
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