Jeong Lee-han Claims Self-Staged Attack Was Not for Approval Ratings, Pleads Not Guilty

▲ Former Reform Party Busan Mayoral Candidate Jeong Lee-han

Former Reform Party Busan mayoral candidate Jeong Lee-han, who was indicted and detained on charges of staging a fake attack during the June 3 local elections, admitted to fabricating the incident in his first trial but argued that it was not intended to influence the election.

The 6th Criminal Division of the Busan District Court held the first trial for former candidate Jeong and his accomplice, Mr. Yoon, who were indicted on charges of instigating violations of the Public Official Election Act, publishing false information, and obstructing the performance of official duties by fraudulent means.

Jeong's legal representative stated, "We admit to all the facts regarding the staged incident," but added, "It was not intended to raise name recognition or approval ratings, but rather to improve strained relations with his father."

However, specific details regarding the "conflict with his father" were not presented.

As grounds for the claim that there was no intention to win the election, the defense pointed out that his approval rating at the time was only 2 to 3 percent, arguing that "the very notion that a candidate with 2 percent support had the intention to win does not make sense."

Regarding the charge of obstructing official duties by fraudulent means, the defense also argued that Jeong did not report the incident to the police himself, and that simply making false statements to investigative authorities or passively concealing the truth does not constitute a crime.

Mr. Yoon, who was indicted alongside Jeong, admitted to participating in the staged incident, but contested the charges of injury and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

The next trial is scheduled for October 20.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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