Seoul court acquits South Korean opposition leader on charges of instigating perjury

Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been acquitted on charges he persuaded a witness to lie in court to understate Lee’s past criminal conviction, in a rare moment of relief from broad legal troubles that threaten to derail his political career. Following the ruling Monday at the Seoul Central District Court, Lee thanked the judge for “bringing back truth and justice.” The prosecution didn’t immediately say whether it would appeal. The same court earlier this month sentenced Lee to a suspended prison term for violating election law by making false public statements while running for president in the 2022 election, which he narrowly lost to conservative rival Yoon Suk Yeol.