'Perjury Coaching Charges' Lee Jae-myung's Side "Do Not Admit"... Accomplice "Admits All Charges"

The court schedules first formal trial on the 8th of next month... Separate trial for Lee to proceed after co-defendant's hearing concludes

The side of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted on charges of subornation of perjury, denied the allegations.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the continuation of the first trial for violation of the Public Official Election Act held on the 8th of this month at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

At the second pretrial hearing held on the 11th under the presiding of Judge Kim Dong-hyun of the Criminal Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court, Lee's defense attorney stated, "The conversations in which the defendant (Lee Jae-myung) requested testimony were not intended to ask for false testimony, and at least there is no recognition of intent."

On the other hand, Kim Jin-seong, an accomplice accused of directly committing perjury at Lee's request, said, "I admit all charges and hope the trial proceeds soon so that it can end quickly," adding, "The claim by Lee's side that more evidence records need to be reviewed as a stalling tactic itself poses a threat to Mr. Kim."

Kim's attorney argued, "Since Mr. Kim has connections with people related to Lee Jae-myung, the trial process itself causes great threats and fear to him and his family," and "His confession and request for a swift trial are to reduce the risk of these threats even slightly, but Lee's side is infringing on the right to a speedy trial."

The court said, "If defendant Kim Jin-seong agrees to all evidence at the next hearing, the case can be concluded and separated, and he can appear later as a witness," adding, "The next hearing could be the sentencing for defendant Kim Jin-seong." The court concluded the pretrial hearing that day and set January 8 next year as the first formal trial date. The court plans to start the formal trial next month, prioritize concluding Kim's trial, and separately proceed with the hearing on Lee's part.

Lee was indicted on charges of requesting perjury from Kim Jin-seong, who was the former secretary to Kim Byung-ryang, former mayor of Seongnam, several times by phone between December 22 and 24, 2018, during the trial on charges of false statement under the Public Official Election Act related to his 'impersonation of a prosecutor' case.

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