Anchor: Main opposition Democratic Party(DP) leader Lee Jae-myung has been acquitted of subornation of perjury. On Monday the Seoul Central District Court found Lee not guilty of pressuring a witness to give false testimony in an election law violation case in February 2019.
Kim Bum-soo has this report.

Report: In acquitting Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, the Seoul Central District Court said it is not certain whether he clearly intended to persuade a witness to lie under oath. 

Avoiding irreparable damage to his political career on Monday, Lee thanked the court as he was swarmed by supporters outside the courthouse. 

[Sound bite: Main Opposition Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung (Korean-English)]
“I would like to thank the court for restoring truth and justice. The path [to this court decision] has indeed been long and difficult, but the hardship that I went through is only a drop in the ocean compared to the difficulties the people are going through.”
“I hope politics is no longer about killing and trampling on each other but about coexistence and going together.”

During a TV debate ahead of the 2018 Gyeonggi gubernatorial election, Lee tried to defend himself from criticism surrounding a past criminal conviction, claiming he had been framed.

Based on the testimony of a witness, the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that Lee was not guilty of misleading voters. But after obtaining an audio recording of a phone conversation between him and the witness, the prosecution indicted Lee on a charge of subornation of perjury.

In the ruling, the Seoul court said it was difficult to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Lee had encouraged the witness to give false testimony, even though Lee mentioned on the telephone the kind of witness accounts he needed for his defense.

Monday’s trial is only one of five criminal cases the main opposition chief is facing.

Others center on allegations of corruption in connection with land development projects and of illegally sending eight million dollars to North Korea in 2019 and 2020.

Just ten days ago, Lee received a suspended sentence for violating the Public Official Election Act during his last presidential campaign, which, if upheld by the top court, will also strip him of his seat and prevent him from running in the upcoming presidential election in 2027.
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.