South Korea’s judiciary has postponed Lee Jae-myung’s subornation of perjury trial until after the upcoming presidential election. The Seoul High Court confirmed the delay on Monday, following Lee’s official registration as a candidate over the weekend. The move aligns with earlier decisions to delay two other criminal cases involving the opposition leader. Officials said the new court date will be announced after the June 3 vote. The delay allows Lee to continue campaigning without interruption.
Lee Jae-myung’s subornation of perjury trial relates to his 2004 conviction for impersonating a prosecutor during a real estate probe. In 2018, Lee publicly stated the conviction had been based on false accusations. Prosecutors later accused him of pressuring a witness to back that claim in a 2019 trial. That testimony supported his 2020 acquittal by the Supreme Court. The prosecution appealed his 2023 acquittal, leading to the current retrial.
The court previously scheduled the trial’s opening hearing for May 20 after holding pretrial sessions in March and April. However, it pushed the trial back to preserve fairness during the election period. Judges have not indicated when proceedings will resume. Analysts say the delay protects Lee’s campaign from disruption but raises concerns over judicial consistency. Lee Jae-myung’s subornation of perjury trial continues to hang over his political future.
Two additional cases also remain unresolved at the Suwon District Court. One accuses Lee of arranging illegal funds for North Korea; the other involves alleged embezzlement of public money. Both cases remain in pretrial stages, and Lee is not required to attend those sessions. Supporters argue that the delays preserve democratic competition, while critics see political favour. Still, Lee Jae-myung’s subornation of perjury trial remains the most closely watched.
Meanwhile, Lee’s wife, Kim Hye-kyung, faces her own legal troubles. A Suwon High Court fined her 1.5 million won on Monday for violating election law. Judges found she used a government card to pay for meals with political figures in 2021. Her lawyer said they would appeal the decision. The couple enters the final weeks of the campaign under mounting legal pressure.
