South Korean Appeals Court Acquits Lee Jae-myung of Election Law Violation

A South Korean appeals court overturned a lower court’s ruling on Wednesday, acquitting opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of violating election laws. The verdict removes a major obstacle that could have prevented him from running for president in the upcoming election.

Lee, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, welcomed the ruling by the Seoul High Court, stating that it completely vindicated him and reaffirmed that the case was politically motivated.

“It is truly outrageous that all this energy and national resources were spent for what is an obvious outcome,” Lee said following the court’s decision.

Previously, the Seoul Central District Court had sentenced him to a one-year prison term, suspended for two years, for allegedly making false claims during a 2021 parliamentary audit while campaigning for the presidency. If upheld, the ruling could have jeopardized his political career.

The appeals court’s decision comes as South Korea braces for a potential snap election, pending the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. If the impeachment is upheld, a new election must be held within 60 days.

Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, remains the frontrunner in opinion polls. However, he still faces multiple legal challenges, including bribery and corruption allegations related to a $1 billion property development project.

Prosecutors have yet to comment on whether they will appeal the latest ruling to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, ruling party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong expressed concern over the case’s uncertainty, urging a swift resolution.

Lee, 61, has been a key figure in South Korean politics. In 2024, he survived an assassination attempt when he was stabbed in the neck at a public event, requiring emergency surgery.