South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-Myung was convicted on Friday for violating election laws and sentenced to a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, Reuters reports.
This ruling could prevent him from running for president in 2027 and cost him his parliamentary seat. Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to President Yoon Suk Yeol, was found guilty of making false claims about a land development project while serving as mayor of Seongnam. Prosecutors had sought a two-year sentence, but Lee was given a suspended sentence. Lee plans to appeal the ruling, arguing the conviction is unjust.
Lee, who survived a stabbing attack earlier this year, faces multiple other criminal charges, including bribery and corruption. His party, the Democratic Party, recently achieved a significant victory in the parliamentary elections, further fueling tensions with the ruling government.
