[이재명 선거법 1심 오늘 선고]
“I didn’t know Kim Moon-ki” “Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport threatens Baekhyeon-dong”… The biggest issue is determining intentionality and seriousness.
野 “Leadership has no influence even during the worst rulings”… There are some concerns that the unity will be disrupted.
The political circles believe that the first trial (15th) sentencing of Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for violating the Public Official Election Act will have significant ramifications for Lee’s political fate as a presidential candidate. If he is sentenced to more than 1 million won in the first trial and the sentence is confirmed by the Supreme Court, Representative Lee will lose his position as a member of the National Assembly and be deprived of the right to run for office for five years. Not being able to run in the next presidential election. On the other hand, if the sentence is less than 1 million won or the person is found not guilty, it is expected that Representative Lee will be able to relieve some of the burden of judicial risk.
● Recognition of Lee’s remarks as false – whether or not they are related to the election is key.
In December 2021, when he was the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Representative Lee appeared on a broadcast and announced false facts about the late Kim Moon-ki, former head of the Development Business Division 1 of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who was in charge of the Daejeon-dong project, saying, “I was a low-ranking employee, so I didn’t know about it when I was mayor.” are facing charges. He was also accused of making a false statement during the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit in October of the same year that there had been threats from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport regarding the change in use of the Baekhyeon-dong site. Article 250 of the Public Official Election Act, which applied to Representative Lee, stipulates that ‘any person who announces false facts about his or her place of birth, family relations, occupation, career, property, or conduct through speeches, broadcasts, etc. for the purpose of being elected shall be punished.’
First of all, regardingthe statement that ‘I did not know former Director Kim’, the issue is whether the expression ‘I do not know’ can be seen as an ‘obvious lie.’ During the trial, Representative Lee’s side argued that “‘I know, I don’t know’ is nothing more than an expression of subjective perception.” The idea is that saying you don’t know someone you’ve met may be criticized as using language that goes against ‘perception’, but it cannot be punished as a crime. On the other hand, the prosecution claims that CEO Lee’s statement that he ‘didn’t know former Director Kim’ is an intentional denial of any interaction with former Director Kim and is tantamount to publicizing false information.
Regarding the decision to change the use of the Baekhyeon-dong site, the issue is whether there was actually pressure from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Representative Lee presented an official document from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as evidence of pressure, but the prosecution argued that such an official document was simply a request for cooperation and could not be considered pressure. Employees of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seongnam City Hall who appeared as witnesses at the trial generally testified that ‘there was no pressure from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.’
It is expected that the court’s main consideration will be whether the two statements were intentionally made by Representative Lee while recognizing that they were false, and whether the statements are significant enough to influence the judgment of voters who elect the president and have any connection to the election. .
● The impact will vary depending on whether the fine is over 1 million won.
For Representative Lee, a fine of more than 1 million won is the worst-case scenario. This is because the judicial risk tag must be attached throughout the Supreme Court’s final ruling. If Representative Lee is fined more than 1 million won in the final trial of the election law, the Democratic Party must return a total of 43.4 billion won, including the 43.1 billion won in campaign funds preserved during the last presidential election and the 300 million won in election deposits that Representative Lee paid when he registered as a presidential candidate. Do it. The Democratic Party is drawing a line in advance, saying, “Even if the worst-case scenario comes true, it will have no impact on Representative Lee’s leadership.” One leadership member said, “In a situation where supporters have great antipathy toward the prosecution’s investigation, unity will actually be strengthened, and Representative Lee’s control over the party will not be affected.” However, there are significant internal concerns. A re-elected lawmaker said, “If Representative Lee’s judicial risk is prolonged ahead of local elections, there may be a departure from the ‘unity group’ within the party.”
If the fine is less than 1 million won, the burden can be reduced in future actions. A key Democratic Party official said, “There will be an interpretation that this is a ruling of ‘actually not guilty’ in response to the prosecution’s political indictment.” Rep. Bimyeong-gye also said, “Under the current situation, being partially found guilty will not have a significant impact on Representative Lee’s leadership within the party.”
If Representative Lee is acquitted, the opposition party’s offensive against the government and prosecutors is expected to intensify. An official from the party’s Prosecution and Dictatorship Suppression Committee said, “The court ruling will reveal the fact that the prosecution unreasonably investigated and indicted the leader of the main opposition party.”
Reporter Myungjin Yoon [email protected]
Reporter Kim Ja-hyun [email protected]
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How could the situation surrounding Representative Lee affect the Democratic Party of Korea’s strategies in upcoming elections?
The situation surrounding Representative Lee from the Democratic Party of Korea poses significant implications for his political career, particularly his aspirations for presidency. The central issue revolves around whether Lee will be convicted for violating the Public Official Election Act due to statements he made regarding former public officials and project pressures.
Key Points of the Case
- Judicial Outcomes:
- If Lee is fined more than 1 million won and this is upheld by the Supreme Court, he will lose his seat in the National Assembly and will be ineligible to run for political office for five years. This would prevent him from participating in the next presidential election.
- Conversely, if the fine is less than 1 million won or if he is acquitted, his political prospects could stabilize, reducing the perceived judicial risk.
- False Statements:
– The crux of the case is whether Lee’s statements regarding former Director Kim Moon-ki and pressures from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport were knowingly false. The prosecution argues that Lee’s claim of ignorance regarding Kim’s identity is an intentional misrepresentation, while Lee contends that such statements represent subjective perception rather than deceit.
- Political and Party Implications:
– A conviction and significant fine could have a cascading effect, forcing the Democratic Party to refund substantial campaign funds and deposits. However, the party leadership has expressed confidence that any legal challenges will not undermine Lee’s standing within the party, citing member loyalty rooted in opposition to perceived prosecutorial bias.
– Internal dissent may arise if Lee’s legal struggles extend and affect electoral strategies, particularly with upcoming local elections on the horizon.
- Potential Consequences:
– Should Lee be acquitted, the Democratic Party may leverage this outcome to argue against the legitimacy of the prosecution’s actions, rallying support around their leader while intensifying criticism against opposition parties and government investigations.
Conclusion
The unfolding legal matters surrounding Representative Lee are likely to be pivotal in shaping both his personal political trajectory and the broader dynamics within the Democratic Party of Korea. The verdict will not only determine his eligibility for future elections but also impact party unity and strategies in grappling with external political pressures. As such, the outcomes of these proceedings will be closely monitored by both supporters and adversaries alike.