SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s firebrand opposition chief, Lee Jae-myung, was legally cleared of wrongdoings Wednesday, clearing one hurdle to a possible bid for the nation’s presidency.
Seoul Excessive Court docket acquitted Mr. Lee of perjury, the most recent indication of the solidity of the left-leaning chief’s Teflon-like political armor.
He has emerged unscathed from a number of authorized challenges associated for essentially the most half to his profession as a neighborhood politician earlier than getting into nationwide politics and taking up the management of the principle opposition Democratic Occasion of Korea.
If convicted Wednesday, he might have been ineligible to occupy a seat and run for workplace at a time when Korea’s nationwide management hangs within the steadiness.
“I thank the court docket for delivering a correct ruling based mostly on the reality and justice,” Mr. Lee mentioned.
The nation is being helmed by acting-President Lee Duck-soo whereas President Yoon Suk Yeol awaits a Constitutional Court docket choice on whether or not to substantiate his impeachment or return him to workplace.
Mr. Yoon was impeached by the Nationwide Meeting within the wake of his shock Dec. 3 martial legislation decree, which he mentioned took purpose at pro-North Korean and pro-Chinese language “anti-state forces,” and alleged electoral interference.
He deployed commandos to the Nationwide Meeting and the Nationwide Electoral Fee — however his decree was legally overturned in hours by the vote of Nationwide Meeting representatives.
They have been led by Mr. Lee, who livestreamed his actions that night time, and by his liberal DPK, but in addition included members of Mr. Yoon’s conservative Individuals Energy Occasion.
Discredited and disempowered, Mr. Yoon was subsequently impeached.
The Korean nation — a strategically positioned democracy on China’s doorstep that hosts the one bases U.S. troops keep on continental Asian soil — is ready, too.
Demonstrations in central Seoul, each pro- and anti-Yoon, are happening every day, signaling deep nationwide polarization.
The Constitutional Court docket has taken longer to determine on Mr. Yoon’s case than it did on two prior presidential impeachments.
If the impeachment of the conservative Mr. Yoon is upheld, a presidential election should be held inside 60 days. Latest polls point out that Mr. Lee would win that plebiscite.
Mr. Lee is routinely labeled as a leftist or liberal chief, however it’s removed from clear whether or not his model of politics will sync or conflict with the Trump administration in Washington.
Mr. Lee favors engagement with North Korea, is strongly antagonistic to the nascent strategic partnership that Mr. Yoon cast with Japan, has blamed NATO for Russia’s warfare on Ukraine and desires improved relations with China.
President Trump has made clear his choice for participating North Korean chief Kim Jong-un, doesn’t favor multilateral safety partnerships and is broadly accused of undermining Ukraine, although his posture towards China has not but been clarified.
