Kim Dong-yeon, Lee Jae-myung Express "Deep Regret" Over First Trial Verdict

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon expressed his "deep regret" on the 15th regarding the court's sentencing of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to a suspended prison term in the first trial for violating the Public Official Election Act.

On the same day, Governor Kim posted on his social media, stating, "I deeply regret the judiciary's judgment," and added, "I cannot help but question whether common sense and fairness in the law still remain in the Republic of Korea." Governor Kim indirectly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the judiciary's decision by writing white text on a black background.

Earlier, the Criminal Division 34 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Han Sung-jin) sentenced Lee Jae-myung, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension, stating, "If false information is disclosed to voters during the election process, public opinion can be distorted and damaged."

A post by Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, on his SNS on the 15th

This is the first first-instance verdict among the four ongoing trials Lee is facing, two years and two months after being indicted without detention in September 2022.

Regarding the first-instance verdict, Lee Jae-myung said, "It is a conclusion that is difficult to accept," and declared, "I will appeal."

Right after the sentencing, Lee met with reporters in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, saying, "This scene today will also become a chapter in modern Korean history," and added, "There are still two more trials in the actual court, but the court of public opinion and history is eternal."

He continued, "It is a conclusion that is utterly difficult to accept even from the basic recognition of facts," and added, "If the people judge based on common sense and justice, they will be able to reach this conclusion sufficiently."

If the ruling is confirmed by the Supreme Court, Lee will lose his parliamentary seat and will be unable to run for president.