On May 1, Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn and remand his violation of the Public Official Election Act for a guilty verdict was "a ruling that is completely different from what I had expected."
After the Supreme Court's ruling was announced that day, Lee met with reporters and said, "What is important is that the law is also a consensus of the people, and ultimately, the will of the people is the most important." He added, "That is what I want to emphasize."
Regarding statements from rival parties, including the People Power Party, calling for his resignation as a candidate, Lee said, "Political competitors will imagine all sorts of scenarios," and stressed, "Politics is ultimately done by the people. We must follow the will of the people."
Earlier that afternoon, the Supreme Court overturned and remanded Lee's case regarding the violation of the Public Official Election Act, with the intent of a guilty verdict. In this case, Lee had previously received a guilty verdict in the first trial and a not guilty verdict in the second trial. With the Supreme Court's decision to overturn and remand, he will face a retrial at the Seoul High Court.
In response, the Democratic Party plans to convene an emergency general assembly of its lawmakers later that afternoon to discuss its future course of action.
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