The Lee Jae-myung trial delay has reignited political tensions just weeks before South Korea’s presidential election. The Seoul High Court confirmed on Wednesday that it will postpone Lee’s first criminal hearing to June 18. This new date lands 15 days after the June 3 presidential vote, a move the court said would preserve fairness. Officials cited the need to ensure equal campaigning opportunities for Lee, a leading candidate and the defendant. His party had earlier requested the delay to prevent legal proceedings from influencing voters.
The Lee Jae-myung trial delay concerns two 2021 campaign statements, which the Supreme Court deemed false under election law. If found guilty and fined over 1 million won, Lee would face a decade-long disqualification. Speaking in Jeonju, Lee welcomed the court’s postponement as a constitutional safeguard for democratic participation. He claimed the ruling upheld equal rights for all candidates, regardless of legal circumstances. His campaign team emphasized that the timing of trials must not sway public opinion.
The Seoul Central District Court also delayed another case involving Lee to June 24, further intensifying the Lee Jae-myung trial delay controversy. This second case concerns a land development scandal in Seongnam, where prosecutors allege breach of trust. Meanwhile, Democratic Party lawmakers pushed a bill to suspend all criminal trials for any newly elected president. The legislation passed the Judiciary Committee despite a boycott by the opposition People Power Party. The bill aims to shield the presidency from what backers describe as judicial interference.
Opposition lawmakers have strongly condemned the proposed legal changes, calling them politically motivated and dangerous. People Power Party lawmaker Shin Dong-uk accused the Democrats of lobbying to shield their candidate from justice. The Justice Ministry also warned that the presidency could become a “haven for a criminal.” Meanwhile, the Democrats planned to accuse Supreme Court justices of abusing power over their recent 10-2 verdict. They eventually scrapped the press event following mounting backlash.
In addition, the Democratic Party advanced a bill to revise Article 250 of the Public Official Election Act. This article formed the legal basis for Lee’s conviction for spreading false information during his campaign. The revised bill would eliminate the vague term “behavior,” which critics argue creates confusion. Lawmakers say the current law undermines free political expression and legal predictability for candidates. The Lee Jae-myung trial delay, now entangled in legislative moves, continues to reshape South Korea’s electoral landscape.
