Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's main opposition party, was found guilty of violating election laws by making false claims during the 2022 presidential election. The 60-year-old, who was a candidate in that election, intends to appeal the verdict.

The leader of South Korea's main opposition party, Lee Jae-myung, was found guilty on Friday of violating election law and sentenced to one year in prison, which was suspended for two years. The Seoul Central District Court determined that Lee, who is the leader of the Democratic Party, made a false claim about a land development project while serving as mayor of Seongnam in 2021.

If the sentence is upheld, Lee would lose his parliamentary seat and be barred from running in any elections for the next five years, including the 2027 presidential election. In response, Lee announced that he would appeal the verdict, calling the decision “impossible to accept.” He added, “There are still two more courts left in the real world, and the courts of public opinion and history are eternal.”

Lee, a prominent liberal who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, is facing three additional trials on charges of bribery and corruption, which he denies. Prosecutors argued that Lee made misleading statements to distance himself from the controversy surrounding the Seongnam land development project. The court agreed that his false claims could have misled voters and prevented them from making an informed decision in the election.

Outside the courtroom in Seoul, police took measures to separate Lee's supporters from his critics, directing them onto different streets to prevent any significant confrontations.

Lee Jae-myung's background includes a difficult childhood as a child factory worker, where he suffered an industrial accident after dropping out of school. He has often emphasized his rise from poverty to political prominence, though his career has been marred by various scandals and rumors about connections to organized crime. In January, Lee survived a knife attack when he was stabbed in the neck and required surgery.

Despite these challenges, his party achieved a decisive victory in the parliamentary elections in April, weakening President Yoon and his ruling People Power Party. Lee had been expected to run for president in 2027, but an unsuccessful appeal would prevent him from participating in the race.