Pro-Lee Jae-myung Group Saying 'Lee Jae-myung Not Guilty'... Pressure with 1 Million Signatures and Rally

November 15 & 25 First Trial Verdicts for Lee
Innovation Committee to Submit Petition Tomorrow (12th)
KDLC "Lee Jae-myung Not Guilty... Urgent Appeal"

Ahead of the first trial verdict for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, pro-Lee factions within the party have each launched public campaigns urging a 'not guilty' verdict. They are collecting one million signatures online to submit a petition to the court or holding press conferences by gathering heads of local governments nationwide.

The Democratic Party's National Innovation Council (Innovation Council), classified as the largest pro-Lee faction, surpassed one million participants in the 'Petition for Not Guilty Verdict for Leader Lee' signature campaign on the morning of the 11th. Based on the signatures collected by that day, they will submit the petition to the Seoul Central District Court the following day (the 12th). The Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to deliver first trial verdicts for Lee in two cases on the 15th and 25th. The Innovation Council also plans to hold a protest urging a not guilty verdict at the Seoul Central District Court starting in the morning of the 15th.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is heading to the courtroom to attend the continued first trial on the 'Daejang-dong breach of trust and Seongnam FC bribery' case held on the 8th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The National Democratic Local Autonomy Leaders' Conference (KDLC), of which Lee is a founding member, held a 'Press Conference and Resolution Rally for Leader Lee's Not Guilty Petition' at the National Assembly on the same morning. KDLC has about 1,700 members including local government heads and lawmakers affiliated with the Democratic Party. The group was founded when Lee served as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province. They have shown a pro-Lee stance, having organized a 'Rejection Rally' ahead of the vote on Lee's arrest motion in September last year.

Yeom Tae-young, former KDLC standing representative and lawmaker, stated at the conference, "The two verdicts to be delivered in November were clearly forced indictments and trials," and added, "We hope the trial will be conducted justly and legally so that a not guilty verdict for Leader Lee can be reached." Park Seung-won, KDLC standing representative, said, "Since his time as mayor of Seongnam, Leader Lee has worked solely for the people's livelihood together with the citizens," and "We strongly urge a not guilty verdict for Leader Lee to end the era of political prosecutors who only engage in political strife."

Members of the Korea Democratic Local Autonomy Leaders' Conference (KDLC) are holding a rally on the morning of the 11th on the steps in front of the National Assembly Main Building in Yeouido, Seoul, urging the acquittal of Representative Lee Jae-myung. Photo by Yonhap News

Hwang Myung-sun, a lawmaker who co-hosted the conference, told reporters, "In reality, most cases related to the Public Official Election Act or perjury coaching charges result in not guilty verdicts," and "KDLC members are confident that all will be acquitted." After the conference, KDLC members shouted slogans on the steps in front of the main government building such as "We absolutely oppose the cunning and ruthless oppression by political prosecutors" and "We will fight to the end for Leader Lee's not guilty verdict."

Meanwhile, the ruling party, including the People Power Party, is pushing for the trial where Leader Lee receives the first trial verdict to be broadcast live. At the same time as the KDLC conference, Jin Jong-oh, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, began a solo protest in front of the Seoul Central District Court holding a placard that read, "Leader Lee Jae-myung, a suspect with four prior convictions, should request a live broadcast of the trial."