Lee Jae-myung "A Conclusion That Is Hard to Accept... Will Appeal"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is accused of spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

At 2:38 PM on the 15th, during the first trial sentencing hearing of the case involving allegations of violating the Public Official Election Act, held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Han Seong-jin), Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence, stated that he would immediately appeal, calling the verdict "an utterly unacceptable conclusion."

After the sentencing hearing ended that day, Lee, exiting the courthouse, responded to reporters' questions by saying, "This scene today will become a chapter in the modern history of the Republic of Korea," adding, "There are still two more trials in the real court, and the courts of public opinion and history are eternal."

He said, "I will appeal," and described the verdict as "a conclusion that is utterly unacceptable even from the basic recognition of facts."

Lee also added, "If our citizens judge based on common sense and justice, they will be able to reach the conclusion sufficiently."

Afterward, Lee left the Seoul Court Complex without responding to further questions from the press.

It was reported that Lee, who was scheduled to attend a prosecution condemnation rally that day, canceled his plans.