Lee Jaemyung Acquitted on Appeal... Will Gwangju and Jeonnam Political Landscape Change?

First Trial Verdict on Public Official Election Act Completely Overturned on the 26th
Lee Jaemyung’s Judicial Risk Resolved, Welcomed by Local Political Circles
Upcoming Local Elections in Just Over a Year Seen as Favorable for Pro-Lee Faction
"Lee Jaemyung Marketing" Expected to Intensify Even Further
Clear Anti-Lee Sentiment in the Region... Strategies Grow More Complex
Leadership Put to the Test; Spotlight on Damyang County Mayoral By-Election Results

Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party, is greeting supporters 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. Photo by Joint Press Corps

With Lee Jaemyung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, being acquitted in the appellate trial for violating the Public Official Election Act on the 26th, the phenomenon of "Lee Jaemyung Baragi" (those who ardently support Lee Jaemyung) in the political circles of Gwangju and Jeonnam is expected to accelerate even further.

With the local elections (the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections scheduled for June 3, 2026) just over a year away, the competition to showcase close ties with Lee Jaemyung is expected to intensify. However, as the "anti-Lee sentiment" is also spreading beneath the surface among local voters, it is expected that each electoral district will struggle to devise effective strategies. The upcoming Damyang County mayoral by-election is the first starting point.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-2 (Presiding Judges Choi Eunjeong, Lee Yesle, and Jeong Jaeo) overturned the first trial’s sentence of one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence and acquitted Lee in the appellate trial on the 26th regarding the charge of making false statements under the Public Official Election Act.

The court found that Lee’s remarks, such as "I don’t know the late Kim Moonki, former head of development at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation," and his claim of "Ministry of Land’s Baekhyeondong blackmail," which were the core of the first trial’s guilty verdict, did not constitute false information.

This appellate ruling was considered so dramatic within the Democratic Party that some described it as "coming back from the dead," as an acquittal was far from guaranteed.

If the appellate court had also handed down a sentence leading to the loss of his parliamentary seat, Lee would have been stripped of his eligibility to run for office for ten years and would have been unable to participate in any anticipated early presidential election.

Even local politicians and heads of local governments who had built their political careers on their "pro-Lee Jaemyung" stance could have faced a backlash. This is why those classified as pro-Lee have unanimously welcomed the outcome of the appellate trial.

Political marketing centered on Lee Jaemyung, now free from judicial risk, is expected to spread even more firmly among politicians and local government heads in Gwangju and Jeonnam. Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam, and Moon In, Mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, reportedly visited the court in person on the day of the verdict to show their support, making a strong impression on local voters.

In the case of Governor Kim, who has already declared his presidential ambitions, the possibility of a dramatic showdown with Lee Jaemyung as a rival and, at the same time, solidifying his position as a new political leader in Honam is growing. Moreover, since his relationship with Lee is not significantly damaged, there is speculation that he could join the cabinet as Prime Minister or even run for a third term as Governor of Jeonnam.

Moon In, who has announced his bid for Gwangju Mayor, is seen as a "true Lee Jaemyung loyalist," giving him a head start over other competitors. Of course, there are also voices in the local political scene that the current mayor, Kang Gijung, has grown much closer to Lee Jaemyung since the December 3 martial law crisis. With Min Hyungbae, a potential mayoral candidate, also classified as a strong pro-Lee figure, the upcoming Gwangju mayoral election is expected to become an even fiercer battleground for "Lee Jaemyung marketing."

Although not yet fully materialized, it is clear that many potential candidates for district mayor, metropolitan, and basic council seats in Gwangju and Jeonnam will also become ardent Lee Jaemyung supporters.

There are also clear voices of caution against this trend, warning against being intoxicated by unconditional support for Lee Jaemyung. Unlike the support for former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, who were backed in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Lee Jaemyung’s support in the region is not as strong. Regardless of the circumstances, there is significant local sentiment questioning Lee’s leadership due to his frequent controversies and ongoing noise.

In the last presidential election, Lee’s vote share in the region remained in the mid-80% range (Gwangju 84.82%, Jeonnam 86.10%), while President Yoon Sukyeol, for the first time as a conservative, achieved double-digit support (Gwangju 12.72%, Jeonnam 11.44%), establishing a bridgehead for his overall victory. Notably, before the appellate verdict, 56.8% of local residents opposed Lee’s candidacy if he lost his eligibility to run for office (according to a poll by Research View released on the 19th in the "3rd week of March National Regular Survey" report), which is highly significant.

The April 2 Damyang County mayoral by-election is expected to be a critical test for Lee Jaemyung in many ways. The race between Lee Jaejong, the Democratic Party candidate, and Jeong Chulwon, the Progressive Party candidate, is not just a contest between the two parties but also a barometer for the "Lee Jaemyung effect."

During the Democratic Party primary, allegations of unfairness arose between Lee Jaejong and Choi Hwasam, leading Choi to shift his support to Jeong Chulwon. The change of heart by Choi Hwasam, who is believed to have considerable organizational strength in the region, is already being cited as a major variable that could affect the election outcome.

Furthermore, if Jeong Chulwon wins, the Progressive Party would produce its first local government head with a constituency, making them even more fervent in their campaign. This is an unwelcome situation for Lee Jaejong, who has weak local ties in Damyang.

Recently, with Lee Jaemyung personally visiting Damyang to win over public sentiment, some are even saying that the real Democratic Party candidate in this Damyang election is Lee Jaemyung himself.

A local political figure commented, "Lee Jaemyung’s position within the Democratic Party is absolute. In a broad sense, given his popularity and influence, it is only natural for local politicians to use him in their marketing strategies."

The source added, "Of course, the party is already somewhat aware of the opposition sentiment toward Lee. Damyang has traditionally been a Democratic Party stronghold, but if the result turns out poorly, the backlash could be significant."