An appeals court in South Korea has reversed a ruling that found main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung guilty of violating election law. The decision could pave the way for him to run for president.
South Korea’s opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday said an appeals court had cleared him in a election violation case, meaning he could be a future presidential candidate.
Afer the the ruling by the Seoul High Court, Lee said the decision proved the case was politically motivated and had completely vindicated him.
What did Lee say about the case?
The Seoul Central District Court last year found that Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung had made false claims about a land development project while serving as mayor of the city of Seongnam in 2021.
He was handed a one-year prison term suspended for two years that would, if upheld, have jeopardized his bid to run in the next presidential election.
The appeals court dismissed the earlier ruling, which had found Lee guilty of making a false claim during a parliamentary audit.
“I am grateful to the court for making a sound judgment based on truth and justice,” Lee told supporters outside the court, criticizing the government for “wasting public resources” on his prosecution.
“It is truly outrageous that all this energy and national resources were spent for what is an obvious outcome,” he said.
If the country’s Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol over his brief declaration of martial law in December South Korea will hold a snap presidential election within 60 days
Who is presidential contender Lee?
The 61-year-old Lee stood in the contest against Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, losing by the narrowest margin in history.
He survived a knife attack last year, having to undergo surgery when he was stabbed in the neck by a man during an event.
The election violation case has been keenly followed with Lee seen as the frontrunner to replace Yoon, should the embattled leader’s impeachment be upheld.
The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lee also faces several other trials on charges including bribery and other crimes linked to a $1-billion property development scandal.
Edited by: Wesley RahnÂ
DW News
