People Power Party: "Lee Jae-myung Not Guilty, Appeal Trial Result May Change... Circumstances of Perjury Must Be Clarified" (Comprehensive)

Court Acquits Lee Jae-myung of Perjury Instruction in First Trial
People Power Party Criticizes Judiciary's Decision as Disappointing

The People Power Party expressed regret on the 25th over the court's acquittal of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of suborning perjury.

Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, said in a statement that day, "We respect the judiciary's decision, but there remains a sense of regret."

Earlier that morning at the party's Supreme Council meeting, Choo said, "I hope today's ruling will mark the end of Lee Jae-myung's style of politics based on lies that has continued for 22 years," adding, "We must teach our children that 'crimes are judged, and lies are defeated.' We expect the judiciary to deliver a fair verdict based on legal principles and conscience today." However, the ruling was different from Choo's expectations.

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Kwack Kyu-taek, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, also respected the ruling but pointed out that the outcome of the appeal trial could differ. In an oral comment, Kwack said, "We respect the first trial court's judgment, but there is a sufficient possibility that a different conclusion will be reached during the appeal process," adding, "Kim Jin-sung, who committed perjury, was fined 5 million won. This means the court acknowledged that perjury actually occurred."

Kwack emphasized, "However, the truth about why the perjury occurred, its background, and circumstances has not been revealed," and added, "Although there is a person who committed perjury, the facts regarding why such an act was carried out have not been clarified, so public suspicion remains unresolved."

He also stressed that judicial risks related to Lee still remain. Kwack said, "Judicial risks still lingering, such as the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development preferential treatment allegations and the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, are tasks that Lee and the Democratic Party must fully disclose to the public," and added, "The behaviors of a 'bulletproof National Assembly' or 'extraparliamentary rallies' to evade judicial responsibility must no longer be repeated."

Kim Yong-tae, a member of the People Power Party, expressed a similar stance. On social media, Kim said, "I respect the judiciary's decision to acquit Lee on the charge of suborning perjury in the first trial, but it is regrettable," adding, "The person who was suborned was fined 5 million won for perjury, but the judgment that the suborner was not guilty is hard to understand. I hope this will be corrected in the second trial."

Park Jung-hoon, another People Power Party lawmaker, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling on social media, saying, "They should rather abolish the crime of suborning perjury in the Criminal Act."

Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court acquitted Lee, who was indicted without detention on charges of suborning perjury, and sentenced Kim Jin-sung, a former secretary to the late Kim Byung-ryang, former mayor of Seongnam, who was the principal offender in suborning perjury, to a fine of 5 million won. The court explained, "At the time Lee Jae-myung spoke with Kim Jin-sung, it was not yet decided whether Kim Jin-sung would testify or what specific content he would testify to," and added, "Based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution, it is insufficient to find that Lee Jae-myung had the intent to induce Kim Jin-sung to commit perjury, that is, the intent to suborn."