The court area in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, was crowded from the morning on the 25th, when the first trial of the "perjury teacher" charge against Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, was held. Supporters shouted "Lee Jae-myung's innocence" and condemnation forces shouted "Lee Jae-myung's arrest," creating a tense confrontation.

Supporters of the Democratic Party, including the Democratic National Innovation Conference, set up a booth in front of the preface of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and inspected broadcasting equipment from 9:30 a.m. that day. On this day, they reported a rally attended by more than 2,000 people from 11 a.m. to the end of the trial in the preface of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Chung Jung-ja (81) said, "There are only one law, not 12 laws, but does it make sense that first lady Kim Gun-hee should be arrested without an independent counsel?" and added, "Does the law have to be broken like this?"

On the other side, on the road in front of the Jeonggok Building on the eastern side of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the Democratic Party's condemnation forces, including the "New Freedom Alliance," reported a counter-reaction rally involving 1,500 people from 12 p.m. to the end of the trial. Joo Yong-soo, 76, who visited the rally, said, "Lee is guilty and should be arrested."

At 2:50 p.m., when representative Lee was acquitted of perjury teacher charges, cheers and wails erupted around the court. Supporters of the Democratic Party applauded and shouted the name of Kim Dong-hyun, the senior judge who acquitted him, while some burst into tears and hugged each other.

On the other hand, the condemnation forces poured out complaining words, such as "Justice is dead" and "The judge must be arrested." A woman in her 70s who asked not to be named said, "The not guilty verdict makes no sense," adding, "I think CEO Lee Jae-myung should pay for his crime."

Similar scenes are expected to be repeated several times in the future. This is because representative Lee's trial is still waiting one after another. In addition to the two trials, which have already been ruled by the first trial, Lee is facing two trials and one trial in the Seoul Central District Court and the Suwon District Court, respectively. Corruption in the development of Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and Wirye new towns and Seongnam FC illegal donations have been merged in the Seoul Central District Court, and the hearing is underway. The trial of illegal remittance to North Korea under the Suwon District Court has not even begun. In addition, there is a trial on the misappropriation of corporate cards in Gyeonggi-do Province, which the prosecution indicted on the 19th.

[Reporter Yang Seho / Reporter Kang Minwoo]