Lee Jae-myung is not guilty in the first trial of perjury...perjury Kim Jin-Sung is fined

Representative Lee Jae-myung 'sentenced not guilty' in the first trial of perjury teacher
The court said, "There is no direct evidence that representative Lee perjured."
"No specific testimony has been decided."

[Anchor]
Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, was acquitted in the first trial of the perjury teacher case.

On the other hand, Kim Jin-sung was fined for giving false testimony at the trial.

We will connect you to the YTN legal team reporter for the detailed judgment. Reporter Kwon Junsu!

Let's start with the sentence.

[Reporter]
Yes, Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is suspected of asking perjury to witness Kim Jin-sung in his trial in 2018, was acquitted.

The first trial court found that there was no direct evidence of abetting perjury while acquitting CEO Lee.

It is difficult to say that CEO Lee intervened in the trial asking for false testimony.

When Representative Lee spoke with Kim Jin-sung, the secretary of the late former Seongnam Mayor Kim Byung-ryang, in 2018, he judged that Kim had not been determined whether he would testify or what kind of testimony he would testify specifically.

[Anchor]
Then, how did the court judge Kim Jin-sung's testimony?

[Reporter]
Yes, some of Kim Jin-sung's remarks about representative Lee Jae-myung were considered perjury.

Kim Jin-sung, who was tried on charges of perjury, was fined 5 million won in the first trial.

However, as I said, CEO Lee was found not guilty.

The court saw that CEO Lee could not be considered to have been intentional by the teacher.

The court also explained that it is difficult to interpret that CEO Lee asked Kim for perjury only by mentioning his unilateral claim.

Rather, I judged that he was saying it to the purpose of telling me as representative Lee was.

The court's judgment was also different on the part that the prosecution claimed that CEO Lee urged Kim to give perjury by providing a summary of his argument to Kim.

The court saw that it was not against common sense to ask CEO Lee's memory in a way that made him check the data supporting his claim and let Kim recall the situation at the time.

He also added that as a defendant in a violation of the Public Official Election Act, it is difficult to say that representative Lee has exceeded the level of defense he can exercise.

[Anchor]
What was the reaction of CEO Lee Jae-myung after the trial?

[Reporter]
Lee, who left the court with a bright expression, said he was grateful to the court for restoring truth and justice immediately after the sentence.

Although the process is difficult and long, he said it is a part of the Changhae family, and that the difficulty he has is just one narrow rice in the sea.

Compared to the difficulties the people face, the difficulties they are experiencing are insignificant.

Lee also told the government and the ruling party that they will do their best for the better lives of the people and that they should now pursue politics that saves people rather than killing them.

[Anchor]
There were also rallies around the courthouse.

Please tell us how the reaction was.

[Reporter]
Yes, as soon as the results of the trial came out, representative Lee Jae-myung's support group stood up and cheered, saying they were innocent.

He welcomed the acquittal by shouting out CEO Lee's name.

It was like holding up a placard saying thank you for the just verdict or waving a blue balloon over your head.

On the other hand, conservative groups continued to speak freely, and they also voiced criticism of the judge in charge.

About 60 Democratic Party members, including active lawmakers, also walked to the court today, with Kang Sun-woo and others smiling broadly and some showing tears immediately after the sentence was completed.

[Anchor]
I think there will be a change in CEO Lee's judicial risk with today's sentence.

How do you expect it?

[Reporter]
With the acquittal this time, CEO Lee Jae-myung, who was on five trials, has one less judicial risk.

Ten days ago, representative Lee received a suspended prison sentence for violating the Public Official Election Act, resulting in the loss of his parliamentary seat, which was burdensome for the Democratic Party of Korea if he was found guilty again.

It's the second time we've overcome the crisis.

However, the prosecution is expected to decide whether to appeal while analyzing the ruling, and it is highly likely to object to the request for three years in prison.

We will deliver the details again as soon as we confirm it.

So far, the Seoul Central District Court has informed you.