The Supreme Court announced on the 30th that it permitted the TV live broadcast of the final appeal ruling on May 1 for Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding the violation of the Public Official Election Act.
On that day, the Supreme Court stated in a notice sent to reporters, "We have authorized the live TV broadcast in the Supreme Court regarding the ruling related to the appeal of candidate Lee Jae-myung." The defendant is not required to be present for the Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court's internal regulations on "the rules regarding courtroom observation and filming" allow filming if it is deemed necessary for the public interest, even without the consent of the defendant.
Previously, the Supreme Court had also permitted the live TV broadcast of the final appeal ruling regarding the charge of spreading false facts against Lee Jae-myung in 2020. Lee was prosecuted for making false statements to the effect that he had never attempted to forcibly hospitalize his elder brother during a TV debate leading up to the 2018 local elections, which violated the Public Official Election Act. The first trial court acquitted him, but the second trial found him guilty and imposed a fine of 3 million won, rendering his election invalid. However, the Supreme Court overturned the case with a ruling of not guilty, and the acquittal was finalized.