Key Facts
• South Korean court indefinitely postponed the first trial of President Lee Jae-myung’s illegal fund transfer case.
• All five criminal trials against President Lee, including election law violations and bribery, are now suspended.
• The court cited South Korea’s Constitution Article 84, which grants the president immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.
• The illegal fund transfer case involves $8 million (approx. 1.17 billion yen) allegedly sent to North Korea in 2019.
• Co-defendants, including former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young and ex-chairman Kim Seong-tae, will face trial on September 9.
• Prosecutors charged President Lee in June 2024 with bribery, foreign exchange law violations, and inter-Korean cooperation law breaches.
• Former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison for related charges.
• President Lee’s legal team requested trial postponements, citing his duties as head of state.
• The court expressed concerns about evidence clarity if trials resume after Lee’s term ends in five years.
• Legal debates continue over whether ongoing trials should be paused during a president’s term.
Summary
South Korea’s judiciary has indefinitely postponed the trial of President Lee Jae-myung in the illegal fund transfer case involving $8 million allegedly sent to North Korea in 2019. This decision halts all five criminal trials against Lee, including election law violations and bribery charges, citing constitutional immunity for sitting presidents. Co-defendants, however, will face trial on September 9. Prosecutors allege Lee conspired with former Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young and ex-chairman Kim Seong-tae to facilitate the payments. The court’s decision reflects concerns over evidence clarity if trials resume after Lee’s term ends in five years. Legal debates persist over the scope of presidential immunity during ongoing trials.
