Seoul: The Seoul High Court has decided to postpone the first hearing of Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's retrial on charges of election law violations. The hearing, initially scheduled for May 15, has been moved to June 18, following the June 3 presidential election. This decision was made to ensure Lee's right to a fair trial.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the court emphasized that the postponement was necessary to provide a fair electioneering environment for Lee, who is actively campaigning for the presidency. The court assured that it will proceed with the trial independently and fairly, adhering strictly to constitutional and legal principles without external influences.

This delay is seen as a favorable outcome for Lee, who faced the possibility of his previous not guilty verdict being overturned. The Supreme Court had recently remanded the case back to the Seoul High Court, highlighting errors in legal understanding by the appellate court, which had acquitted Lee of a lower court's sentence of one year in prison, suspended for two years. If the sentence were finalized, it would prevent Lee from participating in the upcoming presidential election.

Lee, while campaigning in Jeonju, expressed his approval of the court's decision, citing it as a rightful action aligned with constitutional values. The charges against Lee involve allegations of lying during a 2021 media interview about his association with Kim Moon-ki, a former executive involved in a controversial development project in Seongnam. Additionally, he was accused of making false statements during a parliamentary audit regarding pressure from the land ministry related to a rezoning issue.

The appellate court had previously acquitted Lee in March, but the Supreme Court's recent intervention prompted strong objections from the Democratic Party. Lee's legal team had requested the hearing's postponement, referencing constitutional and legal provisions that protect a candidate's fair electioneering rights and prohibit arrest during the campaign period.