Lee Jae-myung Absent from Court Again, Trial Delayed

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, made his first court appearance since the declaration of a state of emergency but left in the afternoon citing a National Assembly schedule. The trial, concerning the 'Daejang-dong, Wirye, Seongnam FC, and Baekhyeon-dong cases,' was postponed after key witness Yoo Dong-kyu, former head of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation's planning division, refused to testify without the defendant present.

On December 10, Lee attended the first trial session at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33, presided over by Judge Kim Dong-hyun. This marked his first appearance in court since President Yoon Suk-yeol's emergency declaration on December 3.

Although Lee attended the morning session, he announced before lunch that he could not return in the afternoon due to a National Assembly meeting. The court indicated it would proceed without him, but Yoo objected, stating, 'I do not wish to testify without the defendant present,' leading to the trial's adjournment.

The prosecution expressed disappointment, stating, 'While we respect the witness's wishes and the court's decision, it is regrettable that the trial is being delayed in this manner, especially as the defendant has repeatedly failed to appear unexpectedly.'

Lee had also missed a previous court session on December 6, citing the schedule for a vote on the impeachment of President Yoon, which similarly resulted in a postponement due to Yoo's refusal to testify.

Upon arriving at the court that morning, when asked by reporters about the prolonged state of emergency and its impact on his court appearances, Lee did not respond. He also remained silent when questioned about the Democratic Party's push for a special prosecutor on insurrection charges and the ruling party's considerations for a 'orderly exit' for President Yoon.