Lee Jae-myung Plans to Appeal 'Suspended Prison Sentence'
Private Supreme Council Meeting Held... Will Attend Tomorrow's Rally as Scheduled
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced his intention to appeal after being sentenced to a "loss of parliamentary seat" in the first trial of the Public Official Election Act violation case, stating that "it is absolutely difficult to accept even the basic facts acknowledged."
Immediately after the verdict on the 15th, Lee met with reporters in front of the court and said, "This scene today will also become a chapter in the modern history of the Republic of Korea." He added, "There are still two more trials in the real court, and the courts of public opinion and history are eternal," emphasizing, "If the people judge based on common sense and justice, they will be able to reach a conclusion." Lee left the court without answering questions such as "What do you think about the sentence?" and "What do you think about the perjury coaching case?"
Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is accused of spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act, is seen leaving the courtroom after attending the first trial sentencing hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 15th, while listening to questions from the press. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
After returning to the National Assembly that day and concluding a closed supreme council meeting he presided over, Lee briefly responded "I am not confused" when asked by reporters how he would resolve the party's turmoil as its leader.
On the afternoon of the 16th, the Democratic Party will hold an emergency joint meeting of nationwide regional committee chairs and lawmakers at the National Assembly to discuss the party's response to Lee's sentencing. Afterwards, a street rally titled "The 3rd National Action Day to Condemn Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Seok-yeol's State Corruption and Demand a Special Prosecutor" will be held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, which Lee will also attend.
Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Chief Judge Han Seong-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 probation. 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.
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