Seoul: The Supreme Court has confirmed the acquittal of Representative Lee Sung-yoon of the ruling Democratic Party regarding the allegedly illegal exit ban on former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui in 2019. Lee, who previously served as the chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors Office, was indicted in 2021 on charges of abuse of power related to the case.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee was accused of exerting undue influence to obstruct the investigation into the exit ban. However, a district court acquitted him, stating that although there were suspicions of undue influence, it was not conclusively the sole factor that hindered the investigation. The appellate court upheld this decision, suggesting that the investigation team might have independently decided to halt the probe.

In March 2019, Kim Hak-ui was stopped at Incheon International Airport from leaving the country. This occurred as prosecutors were seeking to reopen an investigation into allegations that he had received sexual favors from a local constructor over a decade ago.