South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted on March 26 in his appeals trial for violating election laws, easing a major legal risk that could have blocked his path to the presidency. Lee is currently facing five trials, but this was the only case that could have reached a Supreme Court ruling before a potential early election. Had he been fined at least 1 million won, his eligibility to run would have sparked intense debate. However, with the acquittal, doubts over his candidacy have faded, and he has strengthened his position as a leading opposition candidate. Even if the Supreme Court overturns the ruling, the case would require another appeals trial before a final decision, making it unlikely to conclude before an early election.
After the verdict, Lee greeted supporters outside the court, raising both arms in acknowledgment. “Justice has prevailed,” he said, thanking the court for its fair ruling. He criticized the prosecution and government, saying, “It’s absurd that so much energy and national resources were wasted on this. If they had focused on wildfire prevention or improving people’s lives instead of fabricating cases against me, we’d have a better country.” He also urged prosecutors to stop using their power for political attacks. Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Seung-lae said, “The false charges against Lee have finally been exposed,” and thanked the court for standing against politically motivated investigations.
This is the fourth time Lee has survived major legal battles. In 2018, during a debate as a Gyeonggi Province governor candidate, he denied ordering officials to consider hospitalizing his older brother in a psychiatric facility while serving as Seongnam mayor. He was later convicted of making false statements and fined 3 million won in an appeal ruling, which could have disqualified him from running for office. However, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, ruling that his remarks did not amount to deliberately spreading false information. This allowed him to remain in office and run for president. In 2023, the National Assembly passed a motion to arrest Lee, with some lawmakers from his own Democratic Party supporting it. However, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the warrant, saying that, as a political leader under public scrutiny, he was neither a flight risk nor a threat to evidence. Last November, he was unexpectedly acquitted in a perjury case.
With another legal victory, Lee is expected to solidify his leadership within the party while reaching out to centrist voters. He is likely to focus party efforts on pushing for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment ruling at the Constitutional Court while criticizing the government’s leadership on economic and livelihood issues. Right after the ruling, he traveled to wildfire-hit Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where he visited shelters and met with victims.
Some warn that the ruling could backfire on the opposition. With Lee now firmly established as the leading opposition candidate, resentment among conservative moderates could grow, further deepening political divisions. Yeungnam University professor Kim Young-soo said, “By overturning the initial ruling and acquitting Lee of false statement charges, the appeals court may escalate political and social tensions. If the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon’s impeachment in this climate, a conservative backlash could be explosive.” A ruling party official added, “A solidified ‘Lee Jae-myung vs. Yoon Suk-yeol’ contest could weaken Democratic Party support and even trigger unrest if an early election is held.”
