President Lee Jae-myung's trial concerning alleged violations of election laws during his 2022 presidential campaign has been indefinitely postponed by a Seoul court. This decision follows a ruling from South Korea's Supreme Court in May, which concluded that Lee had made false statements during his campaign and remanded the case back to the appeals court for further proceedings.
The Seoul High Court was initially scheduled to hear the case on June 18, but it announced that the hearing would be delayed indefinitely, with no specific date set for rescheduling. The reason cited for this postponement aligns with Article 84 of the South Korean Constitution, which grants sitting presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for most offenses while in office. However, the interpretation of this article is contested among legal experts, particularly concerning whether it also applies to trials that commenced before a president’s election.
The National Court Administration has indicated that it is up to the judges in the courts overseeing Lee’s trials to determine how to proceed. Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Party is reportedly preparing a legislative measure to suspend ongoing trials of the current president, raising expectations of a potential constitutional challenge in the future regarding the legality of such a bill.
2 Comments
Stan Marsh
This is a clear abuse of the Constitution. The law should apply to everyone equally, regardless of their position.
Eric Cartman
Delaying the trial only prolongs the uncertainty and speculation about Lee's behavior. It's time for transparency!