Lee Jae-myung "Hyekyung, I love you"... Plea Ahead of First Trial Verdict on 'Corporate Card Misuse'

Lee Posts Letter to Kim on Personal SNS
"Never Even Saw the Corporate Card He Used"
"So Sorry I Could Die... How Hard It Must Be"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, posted a message expressing "I'm sorry and I love you" ahead of the first trial verdict for his spouse, Kim Hye-kyung. Kim has been on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act by providing meals to Democratic Party officials and others after the party's primary election during the last presidential candidate selection process.

On the morning of the 14th, Lee posted on his personal social media (SNS) addressing Kim, saying, "As a husband, it is unbearable to watch my wife being publicly summoned for investigation and dragged to court," and added, "Every time I see my wife preparing early for the trial, I feel suffocated." He continued, "I usually don't cry, but maybe because of my age, I can't help but cry when I see my wife being treated like a criminal during a critical time, even though she has done nothing wrong because of me." He also defended her, saying, "She might have anticipated a harsh future seeing her husband involved in human rights and civic movements, but she never dreamed she would be humiliated in front of the whole world."

Kim Hye-kyung, spouse of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, is attending a trial held at Suwon District Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee claimed that the investigation and trial against Kim were 'targeted investigations' aimed at him. He said, "After losing the presidential election, the full-scale retaliation began," and added, "An unlimited targeted and fabricated investigation involving nearly 100 prosecutors over several years has continued." Furthermore, he emphasized, "If it is a crime to have privately sent a well-known secretary who helps her husband errands for food, then it is a crime, but out of apology, she gave not only the cost of the food but also a little pocket money," and stressed, "I have never even seen the corporate card he allegedly used."

He also said, "I feel so sorry that I want to die," and promised, "I will definitely give her the ring I couldn't give her when I was young and poor and careless." He concluded by saying, "Hye-kyung, I love you."

Kim's first trial verdict is scheduled for 2 p.m. that day. The prosecution requested a fine of 3 million won on charges that Kim misused a corporate card from Gyeonggi Province. The secretary, who was also tried on the same charges, received a confirmed suspended prison sentence.