(Breaking) Lee Jae-myung to Remain as Gyeonggi Governor...Supreme Court Sends Case Back: "Reverses and Remands"

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who faced a risk of invalidation of his election at the appellate court level over charges of spreading false information, will retain his position as governor following a ruling by the Supreme Court Full Bench.

On the 16th, the Supreme Court Full Bench reversed the original ruling of a 3 million won fine imposed in the appellate court and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court in the appellate proceedings against Governor Lee, who was indicted on charges including abuse of authority and violation of the Public Official Election Act.

On this day, 7 out of 12 justices determined that Governor Lee's statements made during joint discussion forums for Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial candidates on public broadcasters in May and June 2018 did not violate Article 250, Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act (publication of false facts). The Supreme Court stated that "individuals cannot be punished for publishing false facts unless they actively expressed false statements with the intent to unilaterally reveal and disclose false facts regardless of the theme or context of the discussion forum."

Previously, Governor Lee was acquitted in the first trial on these charges, but was found guilty in the appellate court for concealing certain facts (incomplete statements) in his response, which was determined to constitute the crime of publishing false facts, and received a 3 million won fine that results in election invalidation.