'Lee Jae-myung Gangster Involvement Allegation' Jang Young-ha Acquitted in 1st Trial... "Did Not Recognize Falsehood"

Court: "Difficult to Conclude There Was Awareness of Falsity"

During the last presidential election, lawyer Jang Young-ha, who was prosecuted for raising allegations of 'gangster involvement' against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was acquitted in the first trial.

Attorney Jang Young-ha, author of "Goodbye, Lee Jae-myung," is holding a press conference on the 3rd at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, regarding allegations of preferential treatment in sponsorship funds for Seongnam FC. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

On the 24th, the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) acquitted lawyer Jang, who was indicted on charges of false statement under the Public Official Election Act, at the sentencing hearing.

The court stated, "The fact that the defendant claimed there was bribery is judged to be false," but added, "It appears that the defendant believed the facts he announced to be true." It further explained, "There is insufficient evidence to conclude that the defendant had awareness of the falsity."

Lawyer Jang is the legal representative of Park Cheol-min, an active member of the violent organization Gukje Mafia-pa operating in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. In October 2021, ahead of the presidential election, Jang held press conferences and other events claiming, based on Park's statements, that Lee Jae-myung received about 2 billion won in exchange for granting business favors to the Gukje Mafia-pa while serving as mayor of Seongnam.

In response, the Democratic Party accused Jang of publishing false information with the intent to prevent Lee's election and defaming him with false facts, and filed a complaint against him. However, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office decided not to prosecute, judging that Jang believed Park's statements to be true and reported the allegations in good faith.

The Democratic Party filed a request for reconsideration regarding the non-prosecution decision against Jang. The court accepted this request, and Jang was brought to trial in May 2023.

Meanwhile, lawyer Jang is the author of the books Goodbye, Lee Jae-myung (2021) and Goodbye, Criminal (2024), which contain family conflicts and allegations related to Lee. He has also positioned himself as a 'Lee Jae-myung sniper' and ran in the last general election.