Prosecutors: "Difficult to Accept Lee Jae-myung's First Trial Verdict... Will Appeal and Do Our Best to Prove Guilt"

At the first trial sentencing hearing for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of suborning perjury, the court acquitted Lee, while the prosecution expressed its intention to appeal, stating that the verdict is "difficult to accept."

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seokjin Choi

Following the court's acquittal on the 25th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated in a press release, "Regarding today's court ruling on the suborning perjury case against Representative Lee Jae-myung, defendant Kim Jin-sung confessed that he gave false testimony at the request of defendant Lee Jae-myung, and the court found that defendant Kim Jin-sung committed perjury under the instigation of defendant Lee Jae-myung. While the court recognized Kim Jin-sung's guilt, it acquitted defendant Lee Jae-myung, finding no intent to suborn perjury, which is difficult to accept in light of legal principles and evidence."

The statement added, "The prosecution will thoroughly review the judgment and file an appeal, and will do its best to prove guilt in the appellate trial."

At the first trial sentencing hearing held that day at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Kim Dong-hyun), the court acquitted Lee of all charges. The court recognized the guilt of Kim Jin-sung, who was jointly indicted on charges of perjury for giving false testimony as a witness in Lee’s trial and who was formerly a secretary to the late Kim Byung-ryang, former mayor of Seongnam, and sentenced him to a fine of 5 million won.

The court stated, "It is difficult to regard the phone calls on December 22 and December 24, 2018, and the delivery of the summary of arguments as instigation of perjury, and it cannot be seen that defendant Lee Jae-myung had the intent to instigate."

Lee was indicted last October on charges of suborning perjury, accused of calling Kim Jin-sung during his trial for violating the Public Official Election Act (spreading false information) in December 2018, and asking him to appear as a witness and give false testimony favorable to him.