A green light has been turned on for the long-awaited theory of Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea. As the judgment of the court below, which sentenced him to be deprived of his right to vote in the appeal trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, was broken, he was freed from the shackles of judicial risk. If the second trial is also guilty, the "Lee Jae-myung's theory of general trend" is expected to solidify as the opposition of the Anti Lee Jae-Myung Party, which tried to argue that it would not run for president and replace candidates, has subsided.

On the 26th, the Seoul High Court's Criminal Department 6-2 (Chief Judge Choi Eun-jung) acquitted Lee, who was accused of violating the Public Official Election Act, breaking the original ruling that sentenced him to one year in prison and two years of probation. Although the Supreme Court's final ruling remains and other trials are underway, for Lee, the risk of direct impact in the event of an early presidential election has been largely resolved. In the case of criminal trials, the probability of being acquitted in the second trial after receiving a suspended sentence of imprisonment in the first trial is known to be around 1.7%. CEO Lee drilled through this 'needle hole'.

Inside and outside the opposition party, Lee is expected to strengthen the one-top system more firmly with the ruling of the appeals court. First of all, it is expected that other presidential candidates will be less able to stand. They say that Anti Lee Jae-Myung runners, who have been seeking to turn the party around by using judicial risks, have no choice but to focus on the "second place fight." The first meeting, a group of former lawmakers in Anti Lee Jae-Myung, did not make a separate statement on the same day. However, Anti Lee Jae-Myung runners sent a message welcoming the ruling of the appeals court. Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum wrote on Facebook, "I'm relieved as a member of the party," adding, "It's time to work together."

It is predicted that Lee will naturally solidify his control over the party and spur preparations for the next presidential election. The preparation work for the presidential election, which was done under the water, is also expected to accelerate. Already, the names of lawmakers Yun Ho-jung (chairman of the election committee), Kang Hoon-sik (general manager), and Yoon Hoo-deok (head of the policy division) are on the rise and fall over the nomination of the primary camp.

There is also a prospect that the approval rating, which has been trapped in the box, will rise. In July 2020, the Supreme Court reversed and returned the case of CEO Lee's alleged publication of false information to the effect of not guilty, and the approval rating rose.



Although the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol remains, it is expected that people's livelihood and economic activities will resume. "I urge the government and the ruling party to quickly come to the discussion on the supplementary budget," Lee said at the Supreme Council meeting held in Gwanghwamun. "As a national leader, I will take steps toward social integration while worrying about the people and the economy," a pro-Myeong-gye lawmaker said on the phone with Mail Business. "Since he was acquitted at the appeal trial, it is better to send a message focusing on the recovery of people's livelihoods and the economy rather than pressuring President Yoon to dismiss him."

Successful overturning in the second trial is expected to be a "double-edged sword" for CEO Lee. Within the Democratic Party, it is evaluated that he has been able to create a narrative that he has overcome the oppression of prosecutors in the Yoon Suk Yeol government. Expectations are high that it will be able to strengthen the image of "Lee Jae-myung, who is strong in crisis." The Democratic Party has also eased its burden. If the Supreme Court is acquitted as it is, it does not have to return 43.4 billion won for the preservation of the election.

There is a view that it will regain some leeway over the impeachment trial of President Yoon. Many analysts said that the opposition leadership took hasty steps as the schedule for Lee's appeal was set before the date of the impeachment trial. Analysts say that even if the off-the-shelf struggle continues in the future, the level of Lee's remarks could be lowered.

On the other hand, the people's power and the ruling party's supporters are expected to put forward a frame that the second trial court made a wrong judgment by looking at the big opposition party. Still, it is expected that Lee will continue to claim that he is guilty of violating election laws.

Some analysts say that if the Democratic Party of Korea takes power, prosecution reform will be the top policy. The Democratic Party's Judicial Justice Realization and Prosecution Dictatorship Committee has issued a strong message of criticism, comparing the prosecution to the "hound of the Yoon Suk Yeol regime." The Democratic Party of Korea believes that the prosecution office will drastically reduce its authority and functions with the prosecution office.

[Reporter SUNG SEUNG HUN / Reporter Jeon Hyungmin / Reporter Hong Hyejin]