Cho Kuk: "Even if Lee Jae-myung has falsehoods, cutting off his political life is unfair"

"Many Falsehoods in US Presidential Election but No Indictments"

Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, raised claims that the suspended prison sentence given to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, in the first trial of the Public Official Election Act violation case was unjust.

On the 15th, Jo Guk stated at a congratulatory speech during the Jo Guk Innovation Party Seoul Metropolitan City Party Members' Meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, "I question whether resolving political issues through legal means helps the development of democracy in our country," expressing that the first trial sentence against Lee was not appropriate.

Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is holding a press conference on his 100th day in office at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Jo emphasized again, "Democracy is about fighting with words, and there can be some falsehoods in the process of debating and discussing," adding, "Is it justifiable to end the political life of the strongest presidential candidate and the leader of the first party in the 22nd National Assembly?" He also said, "In the U.S. presidential election, there were fierce debates between candidates and many falsehoods, but no one was prosecuted," and added, "This is an issue that requires deep consideration."

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Han Sung-jin) on the same day sentenced Lee, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. If this ruling is confirmed by the Supreme Court, Lee will lose his parliamentary seat and will be unable to run in the next presidential election.