South Korea's Lee Jae-myung Acquitted, Clears Path for Potential Presidency

The Seoul High Court overturned Lee's election law conviction, removing a major obstacle to his candidacy ahead of a possible snap election.

Lee Jae-myung was acquitted by the Seoul High Court of election law violations, overturning a previous guilty verdict and suspended prison sentence.
The ruling eliminates a key legal barrier that could have prevented Lee from running for president if a snap election is triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.
Lee criticized the case as politically motivated and expressed gratitude for the court's decision, while prosecutors may still appeal to the Supreme Court.
President Yoon's impeachment decision by the Constitutional Court is expected soon, which could lead to a presidential election within 60 days if upheld.
Despite the acquittal, Lee faces other legal challenges, including bribery and corruption allegations tied to a major property development scandal.