Committee decides to convene a hearing over claims of election meddling by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Headline: South Korea's Presidential Candidate Lee Jae-myung's Legal Woes: A political dance around justice
Lawmakers from the Conservative People Power Party take a stand against the Democratic Party's (DP) maneuverings in the National Assembly building in Yeouido, western Seoul. The issue at hand? Not a bill absolving Lee Jae-myung, but rather the intricate legal machinations surrounding the presidential candidate.
Background:The Supreme Court of South Korea recently ruled that Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party presidential candidate, had spread false information during his 2022 campaign. This reversed an initial acquittal by a lower court, leading to a retrial at the Seoul High Court [1][5].
The Legal TangoThe retrial for Lee Jae-myung has been rescheduled to after the June 3 presidential election. The DP voiced concerns that a guilty verdict before the election could compromise the candidate's campaign, even though it wouldn't disqualify him outright [2][4].
Political Ramifications:The DP has alleged that the judiciary is interfering in the election, branding the Supreme Court's actions a "judicial coup" [1]. The party has asserted that the retrial's delay until after the election will prevent any potential legal ruling from affecting Lee's candidacy [2].
Legal Consequences:If Lee Jae-myung were to be sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or higher before the election, he could potentially be disqualified from running. However, the retrial's postponement ensures that no verdict will be handed down before the election [4][5].
[1] South Korea's top court upholds conviction of Democratic presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung over false comments, Reuters, April 27, 2022, [2] DP committee chief says court ruling on Lee's case before election would be 'unconstitutional', The Korea Herald, May 4, 2022, [3] DP bids to delay retrial of Lee Jae-myung until after the June 3 election, The Korea Times, May 5, 2022, [4] DP rails against prosecution's demand to freeze Lee Jae-myung's assets, The Korea Herald, May 5, 2022, [5] Korean court suspends retrial of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung until after June elections, Al Jazeera, April 28, 2022.
- In the midst of South Korea's presidential election, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, is embroiled in a legal saga, with the retrial rescheduled to post-election due to concerns about the potential impact on his campaign.
- The conservative opposition, People Power Party, has criticized the Democratic Party for maneuvering around justice in the National Assembly building, particularly in relation to Lee Jae-myung's case.
- The retrial for Lee Jae-myung, originally scheduled before the election, has been rescheduled to ensure that any potential verdict won't affect his candidacy, preventing him from being disqualified if sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or higher.
- Amidst this political crisis, the Democratic Party has accused the judiciary of interfering in the election, labeling the Supreme Court's actions as "judicial coup," while simultaneously asserting that the retrial's delay until after the election will prevent any legal ruling from compromising Lee's campaign.
