Ahead of Lee Jae-myung's Perjury Coaching First Trial... Democratic Party on High Alert

Democratic Party Leadership "Lee Jae-myung Is Not Guilty"
Democratic Party on Edge Over Guilty Verdict in Public Official Election Law
Calls to Refrain from Criticizing Judiciary Also Raised

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who marked 100 days of his second term as party leader, has encountered the biggest hurdle on his path to the presidency: the first trial verdict on charges of perjury instruction. While the DPK is defending Lee by labeling the prosecution's indictment and the judiciary's verdict as 'judicial murder,' some are on edge, anticipating the worst possible outcome.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is heading to the National Assembly on the 25th, the day of the first trial sentencing for perjury instruction charges. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 25th, Jeon Hyun-hee, a senior member of the DPK, said at a senior members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "No matter how cold the winter is, spring will come," adding, "No matter how much the political prosecution under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration tries to eliminate political opponents, they cannot fabricate crimes. Leader Lee is innocent." Kim Byung-joo, another senior DPK member, also defended Lee, stating, "The prosecution's evidence, which is pieced together from selective statements, holds no validity." Han Jun-ho, senior DPK member, criticized the People Power Party (PPP) for emphasizing Lee's judicial risks, saying, "They keep chanting only about Lee Jae-myung," and urged the ruling party to show a responsible attitude toward public welfare.

However, although Lee attended the senior members' meeting, he did not comment on his upcoming verdict. Despite it being the day he marked 100 days since his second inauguration as party leader, he decided not to hold a separate press conference.

On the surface, the DPK is united around Lee. While supporting him, they continued to criticize the prosecution and judiciary. Kim Min-seok, the DPK's chief senior member, said at a press briefing the day before, "Looking at the first trial verdict on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act on the 15th and the prosecution's indictment on breach of duty, it has been confirmed that all matters related to Leader Lee are a comprehensive attempt at judicial murder," adding, "The DPK has set a principle to respond at the party level." Furthermore, he strongly criticized the ruling party, saying, "The People Power Party will face a national mourning."

However, the DPK is in a state of high tension ahead of the first trial verdict on the perjury instruction charges. They are suffering from trauma related to the verdict on the Public Official Election Act violation charges. The prosecution sought a two-year prison sentence for the election law violation, and the court sentenced Lee to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence, which was a harsher sentence than expected. For the perjury instruction charges, the prosecution demanded a three-year prison sentence for Lee. Some urged not to be shaken even if the worst outcome occurs. A DPK lawmaker, who requested anonymity, said, "The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment," adding, "Having experienced the verdict on the election law violation charges, we will not be surprised by the perjury instruction charges verdict."

There are also voices calling for restraint in criticizing the judiciary. On the 18th, Jung Sung-ho, a DPK lawmaker, said on YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Face-off,' "A verdict is a verdict. We must respect the judiciary," and pointed out the need to refrain from emotional responses toward the judiciary. Ahead of the perjury instruction verdict, Lee also ordered discipline within the party. On the 22nd, at the first expanded executive meeting, he stated, "Criticizing the verdict is a legitimate expression of opinion, but it is not desirable to indiscriminately criticize the entire judiciary beyond that," and added, "I express gratitude and respect to the majority of judges and the judiciary who do their best to uphold human rights and democracy."