Prosecution Quickly Submits Lee Jae-myung's Election Law 'Appeal Reasons'... Expected to Be Assigned This Month

Submitted 11 Days Ahead of Deadline
Swift Trial Proceedings Expected

The prosecution has submitted a statement of reasons for appeal to the Supreme Court, which is reviewing the case of former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's violation of the Public Official Election Act.

Former leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, is raising his hand to greet supporters while attending the trial on charges of breach of trust related to Daejang-dong and bribery involving Seongnam FC at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 8th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

According to the legal community on the 10th, the prosecution submitted the statement of reasons for appeal to the Supreme Court's 3rd Division, which is handling the case of former leader Lee, under the name of Prosecutor Jang Jae-jung of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Although the statement of reasons for appeal must be submitted within 20 days from the date of receiving the notice of acceptance of the litigation records, the prosecution completed the submission even though the deadline was not imminent.

Former leader Lee can submit a reply within 10 days from the date he receives the prosecution's statement of reasons for appeal. However, even if Lee does not submit a reply within the deadline, the Supreme Court can assign a presiding justice and begin the full hearing once the submission period ends. Therefore, the assignment of the presiding justice is expected to be completed within this month.

There is a variable. Since the deadline is calculated from the date Lee receives the prosecution's statement of reasons for appeal, if there is a delay or problem in the delivery process, the start of the hearing may be postponed.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court sent a notice of acceptance of litigation records to former leader Lee on the 31st of last month, but it was returned, so on the 7th, the court bailiff was instructed to deliver it directly by hand.

Former leader Lee was prosecuted for violating the election law by publicly announcing false information related to allegations concerning the late Kim Moon-gi, head of Development Division 1 at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation in 2021 when Lee was the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, and allegations of preferential treatment in changing the use of the site of the Korea Food Research Institute in Baekhyeon-dong, Seongnam. The first-instance court sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year probation after a trial lasting two years and two months, but on the 26th of last month, the appellate court acquitted him. The deadline for the third trial verdict under the Public Official Election Act is June 26.