Lee Jae-myung Revived Like a "Ottugi," Only the "Moment of the Star" Was Hastened

Lee Jae-myung Acquitted in Second Trial of Public Official Election Act
Political Turnaround After Crises Including Arrest Consent Bill and Perjury Inducement
No Obstacles Remain for Early Presidential Election Except for Yoon's Impeachment Trial

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, achieved a dramatic turnaround by being acquitted in the appellate trial of the Public Official Election Act violation case. Since the last presidential election, Lee, who had borne the burden of judicial risks, has come closer to his 'moment of stars' through dramatic reversals at every crisis point.

According to political circles on the 27th, since the last presidential election, Lee has been exposed to judicial risks three times, with the threat of prosecution looming over him. However, each crisis turned into an opportunity through dramatic reversals. The recent acquittal in the second trial of the Public Official Election Act is also expected to act as a tailwind for Lee's presidential bid.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a statement after being acquitted in the appeal trial of a violation of the Public Official Election Act held at the Seoul High Court on the 26th. 2025.3.26 Photo by Joint Press Corps

The first crisis occurred on September 19, 2023, when the arrest consent bill related to illegal remittances to North Korea and perjury inducement passed the National Assembly plenary session. At that time, 149 votes were in favor, and it was analyzed that a significant number of Democratic Party lawmakers cast rebel votes. The passage of the arrest warrant was seen not only as the National Assembly agreeing to the possibility of detaining a lawmaker during the plenary session but also as potentially influencing the judgment of guilt or innocence, putting Lee in a life-or-death crisis of 'detention.' However, the court dismissed Lee's arrest warrant, stating there was "no concern of evidence tampering."

Afterwards, Lee strengthened his control over the party and is evaluated to have completed the 'Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party' through the recent general election. Regarding the Democratic Party's nomination process, it is said that many members of the non-mainstream faction fell, which was seen as party members punishing the rebel votes during Lee's arrest consent bill.

The first trial of the perjury inducement case on November 25 last year was also dramatic. Previously, Lee had been sentenced to one year in prison with two years of probation in the first trial of the Public Official Election Act, casting a dark cloud over his future presidential path. However, he was acquitted in the perjury inducement trial, which was considered the most dangerous. Predictions that he would be found guilty in the perjury inducement case following the Public Official Election Act first trial were broken. The ruling of acquittal in the perjury inducement first trial poured cold water on the ruling party, which was already in a precarious position after the general election defeat and was hoping for a dramatic reversal through Lee's judicial risks.

There is testimony that the arrest list during the December 3 emergency martial law included major politicians as well as Judge Kim Dong-hyun, who presided over the perjury inducement first trial. Although there is controversy regarding this, it shows how shocked President Yoon Seok-youl and others were by the trial results at that time. With the perjury inducement first trial ruling, Lee dispelled concerns about judicial risks within the party and regained leadership of the political situation. Subsequently, as President Yoon declared emergency martial law, the leadership of the political situation shifted to the opposition.

In the event of an early presidential election, Lee, who was considered the biggest obstacle, was acquitted?not even fined?in the second trial of the Public Official Election Act, removing variables on the road to the early election except for President Yoon's impeachment trial. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho said in an MBC radio interview, "If there is an early presidential election, I think a significant part of the obstacles to the early election has been removed." Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won also predicted in a CBS radio interview, "The judiciary has made a clear decision regarding the prosecution's targeted assassination investigation of the main opposition party leader and a strong presidential candidate, so luck is coming."