DP Candidate Lee Jae-myung's Retrial Postponed Until After June 3 Election

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung leaves a meeting with contract workers at a restaurant in Seoul on May 1. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

On Wednesday, the Seoul High Court delayed the remand hearing for DP presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung until June 18, following the June 3 election.

“The court rescheduled the trial to a date after the presidential election in order to ensure the defendant, a presidential candidate, has an equal opportunity to campaign, and to avoid any controversy over the fairness of the trial,” the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 7 said.

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Following an appeal made by Lee's lawyer earlier that same day to delay Lee’s scheduled trial, the verdict has been reached. The legal proceedings were initially planned for May 15.

“Candidate Lee’s attorney submitted a request to the Seoul High Court at 11 a.m. today seeking a change in the hearing date for the retrial,” DP spokesperson Han Min-soo said Wednesday.

The Seoul High Court's decision to set the trial date goes against the Constitution, which ensures unrestricted and impartial election campaigning," Han stated, referring to Article 116 of the Constitution that outlines the freedom to conduct election campaigns, and Article 11 of the Public Official Election Act, which grants citizens the ability to engage in these campaigns.

Han stated that the delay would "guarantee election fairness and completely ensure the people's freedom of choice."

The Supreme Court overturned the Seoul High Court’s acquittal of an alleged election law violation involving Lee on Thursday, and the high court assigned May 15 as the first session of the poll frontrunner’s retrial.

The DP had called on the court to push back the trial, saying they would “use all the powers given by the people to the legislative branch” to “prevent the judiciary's coup." The liberal party is also considering pushing for the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de over the top court's decision.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]