South Korean Opposition Leader Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term for Lying During Presidential Campaign
SEOUL, Nov 15 (Bernama-Yonhap) — A court in Seoul has sentenced opposition leader Lee Jae-myung to a suspended one-year prison term for lying during the previous presidential campaign when he was a candidate.
Background
Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), was accused of making false statements in violation of the Public Official Election Act. The court found him guilty of lying during a media interview in December 2021, where he claimed not to know the late Kim Moon-ki, a former executive of Seongnam Development Corp., which was behind a corruption-ridden development project in Seongnam, south of Seoul, when Lee was the city’s mayor. Lee also suggested he did not play golf with Kim while on a business trip to Australia.
Separate Allegations
Separately, Lee was accused of lying during a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government in October 2021, stating that he was under pressure from the land ministry to rezone the former site of the Korea Food Research Institute in Seongnam. The site was later developed into apartment complexes by a private developer, and allegations were raised that Lee rezoned the land to give preferential treatment to the company.
Court Ruling
The court found all the statements to be lies, although the part about not knowing Kim could not be considered a violation of the election law. The court stated that "in the event false statements are made to voters during an election, public opinion can be distorted and damaged." Lee’s guilt and crime were deemed "considerably heavy," and the court recognized the importance of freedom of speech during an election, but also emphasized the need to prevent the distortion of public opinion through the collection of incorrect information.
Consequences
If the ruling is upheld, Lee will be stripped of his parliamentary seat and barred from running in the next presidential election in 2027. The Democratic Party will also have to return the 43.4 billion won it received from the state election watchdog to cover its 2022 presidential election expenses.
Reaction
Lee has vowed to appeal the ruling, stating that the conclusion is "just difficult to accept, starting with the basic facts." This is the first of four sentences to be handed to the opposition leader, who is currently standing three other trials on charges of suborning a former mayoral secretary to make false court testimony in his favor, corruption in connection with the Seongnam development project, and involvement in an illegal cash transfer of US$8 million to North Korea.
Conclusion
The ruling is a significant blow to Lee’s political career and may have implications for the upcoming presidential election. The case highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in politics, and the need for political leaders to be held accountable for their actions.
FAQs
Q: What was Lee Jae-myung accused of?
A: Lee was accused of making false statements during the 2021 presidential campaign, including claiming not to know a former executive of Seongnam Development Corp. and stating that he was under pressure from the land ministry to rezone a former site of the Korea Food Research Institute in Seongnam.
Q: What was the court’s ruling?
A: The court found Lee guilty of making false statements and sentenced him to a suspended one-year prison term.
Q: What are the consequences of the ruling?
A: If the ruling is upheld, Lee will be stripped of his parliamentary seat and barred from running in the next presidential election in 2027. The Democratic Party will also have to return the 43.4 billion won it received from the state election watchdog to cover its 2022 presidential election expenses.
Q: Will Lee appeal the ruling?
A: Yes, Lee has vowed to appeal the ruling.