Lee Nak-yeon: "Jung Kyung-shim Verdict Is Excessively Harsh... I Will Stand with Former Minister Cho Kuk"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Lee Nak-yeon, former leader and presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, described the appellate court ruling on Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University as an "excessively harsh decision" and said, "I will stand with former Minister Cho Kuk during this painful time."

Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Rep. Lee Nak-yeon is delivering a greeting at the policy agreement ceremony of the National Movement Headquarters for the Introduction of the National Primary Care Physician System, held on the 10th at the Daesan Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 11th, Lee said on Facebook, "The appellate court's decision to uphold the four-year prison sentence raises suspicions that the sentence was predetermined and the details were adjusted to fit it," adding, "It is especially difficult to understand that documents related to college admissions, such as high school internship certificates, were recognized as 'guilty'."

He emphasized, "Even if we concede a hundred times that such acts actually occurred, the decision is excessively harsh."

Lee stated, "The fact that all charges related to the private equity fund allegations and insider trading, which Yoon Seok-yeol cited as reasons for investigating former Minister Cho Kuk, were acquitted proves that there was no justification for the investigation," and added, "The arbitrary actions of a single prosecutor resisting the president's personnel authority and the arrogance of the prosecution organization are destroying a family and severely depleting the nation's capabilities."

He continued, "No words can truly comfort, but I send my deepest condolences to former Minister Cho Kuk and his family," and said, "I support former Minister Cho's decision to appeal to the Supreme Court. I will stand with former Minister Cho during this painful time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.