The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Lee Jaegwon) announced on the 7th, "We changed the trial date to after the presidential election to ensure the defendant, who is a presidential candidate, has an equal opportunity to campaign and to eliminate any controversy regarding the fairness of the trial."

Yonhap News Agency

원본보기 아이콘

The court stated, "We have always maintained, and will continue to maintain, a stance of conducting trials independently and fairly, based solely on the Constitution and the law, without any external or internal influence or interference."

Previously, the retrial panel was assigned the case on the 2nd and set the first trial date for 2 p.m. on the 15th. On the morning of the 7th, Lee's defense team submitted a request to the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7, which is in charge of the case, to reschedule the trial date.

Yonhap News

원본보기 아이콘

On the 7th, the Democratic Party stated that it was "only natural" for the Seoul High Court to postpone the retrial of Lee Jaemyung, the party's presidential candidate, until after the election, adding, "It is also reasonable to postpone the remaining trials as well."

Cho Seungrae, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson for the election committee, said in a written briefing that the Seoul High Court's decision to postpone the retrial was "the right decision," and assessed that "the minimum conditions for a fair election have now been met." He added, "It is fortunate that the court has finally made a decision in line with the principles and common sense of popular sovereignty."

Chief Spokesperson Cho also pointed out that "in addition to the Public Official Election Act trial, there are several other cases with scheduled trial dates," and reiterated, "It is also reasonable to postpone the remaining trials as well." He continued, "There should be no factors that hinder the realization of popular sovereignty in the future," and emphasized, "The judiciary must quickly move away from any controversy suggesting it seeks to restrict the people's right to political participation."