Lee Jae-myung, Freed by 'Perjury Coaching' Acquittal, Resumes Path to Power...

Court Acquits of Perjury Coaching in First Trial
Creates Space to Resume Presidential Bid
Appealed Public Official Election Act Remains a Threat

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was revived after being acquitted in the first trial for perjury inducement. For Lee, who was in crisis due to violations of the Public Official Election Act, this verdict has provided a breath of relief.

After the first trial verdict on the perjury inducement charge at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 25th, Lee met with reporters and said, "I am grateful to the court for restoring truth and justice," adding, "Although the process has been truly difficult and long, the hardships I have experienced are like a single grain of millet in a vast ocean. Compared to the difficulties and suffering our people endure, my hardships are insignificant."

Lee proposed politics of coexistence to the government and ruling party. He stated, "I hope politics will no longer be about killing and trampling each other but about coexisting and moving forward together," and added, "I want to tell the government and ruling party to pursue politics that saves people rather than politics that kills."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering the National Assembly after the first trial sentencing hearing on charges of perjury instruction on the 25th. Lee was acquitted in the first trial of the perjury instruction charges on that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Earlier, the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Dong-hyun) acquitted Lee, who was indicted without detention on charges of perjury inducement, and sentenced Kim Jin-sung, a former secretary to the late Kim Byung-ryang, former mayor of Seongnam City and the principal offender of perjury inducement, 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 "Based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution, it is insufficient to conclude that Lee Jae-myung had the intent to induce Kim Jin-sung to commit perjury, that is, the intent to instruct."

Lee showed a cautious attitude by refraining from comments ahead of the trial. Wearing a black suit and a navy blue tie, Lee arrived at the Seoul Central District Court around 1:50 p.m. and was asked questions such as "What is your position ahead of the verdict?" and "How do you expect the guilty or not guilty judgment?" but he did not respond. At the first expanded executive meeting on the 22nd, Lee also requested the party to refrain from emotional responses, saying, "It is not desirable to criticize the entire judiciary indiscriminately."

The perjury inducement case that was judged this time had previously been deemed "the perjury inducement charge was substantiated" when Lee underwent a warrant review at the court following the passage of the arrest consent bill. Therefore, the opposition considered this case more dangerous than the violation of the Public Official Election Act, for which Lee was sentenced to probation. However, with the acquittal this time, Lee was able to revive his political career. Although separate trials, including the Public Official Election Act case, are ongoing, Lee’s finding a way out in this case allows him to resolve judicial risks while securing space to continue his ruling trajectory.

He also gained an opportunity to firmly reestablish his shaken position within the party. Initially, the Democratic Party did not show signs of wavering despite the guilty verdict in the first trial for the Public Official Election Act violation. However, there were forecasts that if the perjury inducement trial, scheduled to be judged within this month, also resulted in a guilty verdict, the repercussions would be significant. But with this verdict, plans such as the 'Plan B' mentioned in some quarters are expected to be shelved.

However, the Public Official Election Act trial, where Lee was already sentenced to a 10-year disqualification from candidacy, is expected to remain a thorn in his side. Both Lee and the prosecution have appealed the first trial verdict related to the Public Official Election Act. Article 270 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that "the first trial must be completed within six months after the indictment, and the second and third trials must be completed within three months each after the previous trial's verdict." Because of this, the Public Official Election Act case is expected to continue to be a variable in Lee’s path to the presidency.

Furthermore, Lee’s recent pragmatic and centrist approach is expected to accelerate. Lee has proposed discussions with the business community, which had expressed opposition to the amendment of the Commercial Act imposing fiduciary duties on shareholders. The Commercial Act discussion, among others, is scheduled to be held this week with Lee and others attending. Lee has recently attracted attention by suggesting the possibility of changes in the Democratic Party’s previously advocated positions on labor, corporate governance, and regulation.