SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a lower court’s acquittal of Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader and a top contender in the upcoming presidential race, sending the case back for retrial with instructions that Lee be found guilty of spreading false information.
The case stems from comments Lee made during the 2021 presidential campaign.
He had denied playing golf overseas with the late Kim Moon-ki, a former executive at the Seongnam Development Corporation, and claimed that he received "threats" from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as Seongnam City was undertaking a controversial land development in Baekhyeon-dong.
The court ruled both statements to be false.
Lee, who narrowly lost the last presidential election to Yoon Suk Yeol in 2021, is again a leading candidate for the June 3 election, triggered by the impeachment of Yoon.
While the court’s decision revives legal troubles that have dogged his campaign, it is unlikely to disqualify him before the election, as the retrial and possible appeals could stretch well beyond election day. However, the ruling is expected to intensify scrutiny of his candidacy as the election nears.
The ruling was handed down with 10 of the Supreme Court’s 12 justices voting to overturn the appeals court’s acquittal, while two dissented.
In November, a lower court sentenced Lee to one year in prison, suspended for two years, after finding that some of his statements during the campaign constituted false information under the Public Official Election Act.
But in March, an appellate court reversed the conviction, calling the remarks "political opinions" rather than factual claims.
The Supreme Court’s decision means the Seoul High Court must now rehear the case. A final decision may ultimately require a second review by the Supreme Court.
Lee has denied any wrongdoing and framed the charges as politically motivated.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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