South Korean court clears opposition leader in election law case
A South Korean appeals court has overturned a previous ruling, declaring main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung not guilty of breaching election laws, which had posed a potential obstacle to his presidential candidacy. The Seoul High Court's decision, announced on Wednesday, annulled the one-year prison sentence Lee received in November. Lee, who had faced charges related to a 2021 parliamentary audit over a land development project in Seongnam, expressed his satisfaction with the ruling, calling the case politically driven.
Lee had been convicted of falsely claiming during the audit that the project was improperly managed while he was mayor. Had the original verdict stood, Lee would have lost his parliamentary seat and been barred from future presidential elections.
The latest ruling removes a significant hurdle, and polling data suggests Lee remains the leading contender to succeed President Yoon Suk-yeol, should the latter’s impeachment proceed. If Yoon’s impeachment is upheld by the Constitutional Court, South Korea will hold a snap election within 60 days.
Though Lee faces ongoing legal battles, including charges related to bribery and a $1bn property development scandal, he remains a prominent figure in the race. Under South Korean law, politicians convicted of election law violations can be disqualified from elections if a fine or suspended sentence is imposed, depending on the severity of the case.
Lee, 61, previously ran against Yoon in the 2022 presidential race and narrowly lost. In 2024, he survived a stabbing attack at an event and required surgery.
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