A court in South Korea on Wednesday overturned a lower court’s decision, ruling that the main opposition party leader is not guilty of violating election law. If this decision is upheld, it will pave the way for him to run in the next presidential election.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors can appeal the decision, which could take the case to the Supreme Court, South Korea’s highest judicial body.<\/p>\n
Speaking outside the court after the ruling was announced, Lee Jae-myung thanked the court for the decision, which he described as “the right decision.”<\/p>\n
The charges against Lee stem from remarks he made in 2021 while competing in his party’s presidential primary, where he allegedly denied knowing one of the key figures in a real estate development scandal. The scandal involved a redevelopment project in Seongnam city, where Lee was mayor. Prosecutors allege Lee lied about his relationship with businessman Kim Moon-ki to conceal his own culpability in the real estate deal.<\/p>\n
Immediately after the court’s decision was announced, Kweon Seong-dong, leader of the ruling People Power Party, called the ruling “regrettable” and urged the Supreme Court to quickly decide the case.<\/p>\n
Lee, a trained lawyer and experienced politician, lost the 2022 presidential election by the narrowest margin in South Korea’s democratic history to now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.<\/p>\n
Yoon, Lee’s fierce rival, is awaiting a Constitutional Court ruling on his impeachment over charges of leading an insurrection in December. Lawmakers voted to impeach Yoon following his attempt to declare martial law in early December, which he claimed was necessary to protect South Korea from opposition “anti-state forces.” The measure was quickly rejected in the National Assembly, but the attempt triggered a political crisis that continues months later.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court completed hearings on Yoon’s case late last month and is expected to deliver its verdict within days, although no official date has been announced. If the court finds Yoon not guilty, he will be immediately reinstated. If found guilty, an early election will be held within 60 days.<\/p>\n
Data released last week by polling firm Gallup Korea<\/em> showed Lee as the leading choice among potential candidates for the next presidential election. Lee, with a support rate of 36%, was far ahead of the number 2 likely candidate, conservative Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo.<\/p>\n Yoon’s impeachment delay: Legal rigour or political deadlock?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n