Lee Jae-myung Acquitted in Second Trial for Election Law Violation
Ahn Cheol-soo: "Lee Should Not Run Even If an Early Presidential Election Is Held"
On the 26th, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, emphasized that "the second trial result does not grant a pardon to Lee Jae-myung," the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was acquitted in the second trial of the Public Official Election Act violation case. On the same day, Ahn posted on his social media (SNS), stating, "The Supreme Court's final judgment is still pending, and trials for 5 out of the 12 charges are ongoing. Today's ruling is just one of them."
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, emphasized on the 26th that "the second trial result does not grant a pardon to Lee Jae-myung," regarding Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, being acquitted in the second trial of the Public Official Election Act violation case. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Ahn said, "I respect the court's judgment," but pointed out, "This ruling was not justice, and Lee dragged out the trial for a long period of 909 days until the second trial verdict by using every possible means such as failure to receive summons and changing trial dates." He added, "Although he was ultimately acquitted, the constitutional value of 'equality before the law' was seriously damaged in the process," and insisted, "This second trial result cannot grant a pardon to Lee."
Along with this, Ahn reiterated his stance that Lee should not run as a candidate in the presidential election that would be held if President Yoon Seok-youl were impeached. He said, "If voters have to choose a candidate whose charges have not been confirmed, it is hard to see that election as just, and it is also difficult to secure democratic legitimacy," emphasizing, "I still believe that Lee Jae-myung should not run even if an early presidential election is held." He concluded by saying, "I hope the court will promptly conclude the remaining trials against Lee for the people’s proper judgment."
Earlier that day, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6 (Chief Judges Choi Eun-jung, Lee Ye-seul, and Jung Jae-oh) ruled 'not guilty' on the appeal trial issues, including the statements that "(Lee, during his time as mayor of Seongnam) did not know Kim Moon-gi, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and did not play golf together" and the remarks about "land use change in Baekhyeon-dong due to pressure from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport," finding that these did not constitute false public statements.
Regarding the People Power Party’s claim that the photo of Lee playing golf was "manipulated," the court judged, "The statement means 'he does not remember Kim Moon-gi,'" and "Even with broad interpretation, there is no basis to interpret it as a lie that he did not play golf together."
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