A former mayor, who has been in a legal battle for 12 years under the National Security Law, condemned the prosecutor's decision to appeal his acquittal.
Lee Hong-yong, a former mayor of Yeongbuk-myeon in Pocheon City, has faced a legal battle for 12 years related to allegations under the National Security Law. Despite the appellate court's ruling of complete innocence regarding the National Security Law charges, the prosecution decided to appeal the decision. Lee criticized the prosecutor's choice, stating that any reasonable prosecutor would not pursue an appeal under such circumstances. He described the appeal’s reasons as merely a rephrased version of those presented during the 2014 trial, lacking any substantive basis.
Lee was initially investigated in 2013 linked to activities of the civil service union and was indicted in 2014, facing allegations of cooperating with North Korean-affiliated organizations. In addition to the National Security Law violations, he was also charged with obstructing traffic and falsifying official documents. His case has dragged on for over a decade, indicating significant ongoing judicial concerns around the enforcement of national security laws in South Korea.
Earlier, the first trial court ruled Lee guilty of charges related to obstruction of official documents and traffic but acquitted him of the National Security Law violations. However, in a surprising turn, the appellate court reversed the earlier decision, rendering a complete acquittal. Following the prosecution's appeal just days after the ruling, the case is now pending in the Supreme Court. Lee, who faced a cancellation of his promotion due to the initial guilty ruling, now stands at a crossroads as he approaches retirement while grappling with the lasting impacts of these legal battles.
