Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party representatives absent from trial for violation of public office election law ahead of general election = South Korea

Representatives of the Democratic Party (opposition), including Lee Jae-myung, were absent from court proceedings one after another in the run-up to the general election. On the 22nd, Representative Lee spoke at a hearing held in the 34th Criminal Panel of the Seoul Central District Court.
Moon-gi and Baek Hyung-dong did not attend the trial on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act regarding their suspicious comments regarding preferential treatment, having submitted a ``written opinion regarding the proceeding'' the day before.
Although the defendant is obligated to attend a criminal trial, the public office election law states that the trial chamber can proceed with the trial even if the defendant is absent.
According to the regulations, it was decided that the witness examination scheduled for that day would proceed without Representative Lee. Representative Lee did not attend the trial last October due to attending a national audit, and the trial chamber postponed the trial.
In some cases, the trial proceeded without Representative Lee. In December 2021, when they were both candidates for the Democratic Party's presidential election, Representative Lee spoke about the late Kim Moon-ki Sung-nam (Seongnam) in several broadcast interviews.
He is currently on trial on charges that he spoke to the Director of Development 1 of the City Development Corporation, saying, ``I didn't know him when he was mayor,'' and that he published false information.
Representative Lee announced on the 19th that the criminal panel 33 of the same court is currently investigating breach of trust and bribery related to Taejang-dong, Seongnam FC, and Baekhyeon-dong.
He submitted a written excuse for his absence at the trial on charges of bribery, citing general election campaigning, and did not attend without the court's permission. In response, the court said, ``If you continue to fail to attend, we will issue a warrant of detention and compulsory summons.''
We will also consider ways to return the funds.'' On this day, Yoo Dong-gyu, the former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Headquarters Director who attended the Daejo-dong preferential development scandal trial as a defendant, told reporters, ``I was found guilty.''
"He seems to be insisting that this is a political trial, but if he has a conscience, he should show his sincerity," he said, criticizing Lee.