Lee Jae-myung's Continued Absence from Court in Daejang-dong Case

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, failed to attend court on April 7, marking his fifth absence in the ongoing trial concerning the Daejang-dong corruption case. The court has decided to proceed without his testimony and will not pursue any compulsory measures to summon him.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 22, presided over by Judge Cho Hyung-woo, announced that it would not conduct witness examinations for Lee, citing the lengthy duration of the trial, which has been ongoing since late 2021. The court stated, "We cannot continue to wait solely focused on the witness's attendance. We will no longer summon him as a witness."

The court also determined that it could not impose detention or other coercive measures against Lee, as he has filed objections to the fines imposed on him, which have not yet been finalized. Previously, the court had levied fines of 3 million and 5 million won due to his repeated absences, to which Lee submitted two objection forms on April 3. He has claimed that he is unable to attend due to other ongoing trials and his legislative duties.

If a witness fails to appear despite fines, the court can issue a summons or a detention order within seven days. However, as a sitting member of the National Assembly, Lee enjoys parliamentary immunity, meaning any compulsory summons would require the Assembly's consent.

The court noted, "Given that Lee is a current member of the National Assembly and has immunity from arrest, it is practically difficult to summon him without the Assembly's agreement. Even if we were to seek such consent, we cannot wait for the Assembly's decision every time a witness is called."

The prosecution expressed strong regret over the situation, stating, "It is disappointing that the judiciary has effectively refused to apply the law in this case, allowing Lee to disregard constitutional and legal obligations. He previously refused to testify during the investigation, promising to clarify everything in court, yet he is now evading that as well."

They further commented, "The purpose of parliamentary immunity is to protect lawmakers from undue pressure, but it is regrettable that this has made summoning him as a witness so difficult."

Nonetheless, the court acknowledged the prosecution's concerns but reiterated that the procedures for summoning a member of the National Assembly must comply with criminal procedure laws, leaving them with no alternative. The session concluded after approximately 30 minutes, with the court indicating that witness examinations for Jeong Jin-sang, former head of the Democratic Party's Policy Coordination Office, would commence in the next session.