Live Broadcast of Lee Jae-myung Sentencing Trial Not to Be Held... Ruling Party Says "Regretful but Respecting Court's Decision"

Joo Jin-woo "Lee Jae-myung's Crimes Will Be Fully Exposed"

Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said he "regrets it but respects the court's decision" regarding the court's decision not to broadcast live on TV the first trial verdict hearing on November 15 for Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the "Emergency Countermeasure Meeting to Prevent Judicial Obstruction by Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party" held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 13th, Choo met with reporters near Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "We have persistently hoped that the trial process, which has attracted great public interest, would be disclosed through live broadcasting, but the court decided not to broadcast live after considering various factors." He added, "However, since Lee Jae-myung continues to claim his innocence, I urge and expect him to boldly request the court for live broadcasting even at this point."

Joo Jin-woo, chairman of the People Power Party's Legal Advisory Committee, also stated in a press release on the same day, "We respect the court's decision. We deeply regret that Lee Jae-myung opposed live broadcasting, disregarding the public's right to know by invoking his own human rights." He added, "Since the verdict will be disclosed after the sentencing on November 15, I believe Lee Jae-myung's crimes will be fully revealed to the public." He further said, "For the public's right to know and judicial justice, we will continue to strive to have live broadcasts accepted for the perjury coaching case on November 25 and the upcoming verdict on the North Korea remittance case."

Earlier, the People Power Party had requested the court to broadcast live on TV the first trial verdict hearings scheduled for November 15 and 25 regarding Lee's charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and perjury coaching. Jin Jong-oh, a member of the People Power Party, has been holding a solo protest in front of the Seoul Central District Court demanding live broadcasting of Lee's verdict hearing. It is also known that party leadership, including Secretary-General Seo Beom-su, visited Jin in support on the same day.

The Seoul Central District Court announced on the day, "After comprehensively considering the related legal interests, it has been decided not to conduct filming or live broadcasting of the verdict announcement."