The People Power Party submitted a petition urging the swift progress of legal proceedings concerning Lee Jae-myung, the representative of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the Daejang-dong scandal to the Seoul Central District Court on the 20th. They noted that the change of judges overseeing related cases could be misused as a means to delay the trial.
People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who is the chairman of the legal advisory committee, submitted a petition to the court on that day urging the swift progress of the ‘Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and Wirye New Town development corruption and Seongnam FC illegal sponsorship funds’ case.
In the petition, the People Power Party stated, “With the change of judges, a renewal of the trial procedure is expected,” adding, “In this process, procedures such as notification of the right to remain silent, acknowledgment of the charges, and evidence examination may be carried out again.”
They added, “Defendant Lee Jae-myung has already faced criticism for intentionally delaying trials through various means such as the deliberate non-appointment of legal counsel, delays in notification, and mass requests for evidence,” and pointed out that “the renewal of trial procedures also poses a significant risk of being misused as a means to delay the trial.”
They continued, “We urge the court to exercise its active litigation authority to ensure that the trial progresses swiftly and smoothly,” and noted that “the duration of the trial should not be differentiated based on the social status of the defendant as per the constitution.”
According to legal sources, Director General Kim Dong-hyun, who presides over the Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and Wirye New Town development corruption and Seongnam FC case, is highly likely to relocate within the Seoul Central District Court, and the associate judges have been confirmed for replacement. Once the new panel is constituted, they must reaffirm both parties' positions regarding the charges and undergo a new evidence examination process. Consequently, it appears that the review period for the Daejang-dong trial, which has taken place over the past two years, will be extended.
Previously, prosecutors indicted Lee on the charges of ‘Wirye New Town, Daejang-dong, and Seongnam FC suspicions’ on March 22, 2023, and additionally indicted him on charges related to Baekhyeon-dong on October 12 of the same year.