Lee Junseok: "Loss of Lee Jaemyung's Candidacy Eligibility Is Only a Matter of Time... Democratic Party Must Replace Its Candidate"

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, stated on May 1, "The Supreme Court's en banc decision is effectively equivalent to confirming a guilty verdict against Lee Jaemyung, the candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea."

On the afternoon of the same day, Lee made this comment on Facebook, saying, "Although the sentence has not been finalized, the loss of eligibility to run for office is only a matter of time."

Earlier that afternoon, the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the appellate court's decision in Lee Jaemyung's violation of the Public Official Election Act case, citing a guilty verdict.

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, is attending and speaking at the Kwanhun Debate held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on April 30, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Lee Junseok emphasized, "Unless there is a significant change in evidence or testimony, there is no possibility that the High Court will deliver a verdict that deviates from the Supreme Court's intent," and added, "The Democratic Party must respect the Supreme Court's decision and immediately replace its candidate."

He continued, "There are still ten days left until the presidential candidate registration, and if there is the will, it is entirely possible. However, if Lee Jaemyung pushes ahead with registering his candidacy, it will lead to serious problems. If the guilty verdict is upheld in the appellate court, even if the case goes back to the Supreme Court, the matter already decided by the en banc panel cannot be reconsidered."

Lee Junseok argued, "If Lee Jaemyung runs in the election and is elected while the case has been remanded with a guilty verdict by the Supreme Court, he will immediately lose his eligibility to hold office, and there is a very high possibility that the election itself will be invalidated." He added, "Lee Jaemyung's candidacy could become a reckless challenge aimed at undermining the judicial decision."