South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s Trials on Hold: What’s Next for His Presidency?

All five criminal trials involving South Korean President Lee Jae-myung have been suspended. This decision follows the halt of proceedings in his case regarding alleged illicit remittances to North Korea, which was the last active case.

The Suwon District Court announced on Tuesday that the trial involving President Lee, former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, and former Ssangbangwool Group underwear conglomerate chairman Kim Seong-tae has been postponed.

During a preparatory hearing, the court stated, “The defendant is currently serving as president and holds the status of head of state, representing the nation. We will defer the hearing date to allow him to fully attend to his constitutionally mandated duties and ensure the continuity of governance.”

Article 84 of the Constitution provides that “The President shall not be indicted for a criminal offense during his tenure except in cases of insurrection or treason.”

Last June, prosecutors indicted President Lee without detention.

Prosecutors allege that while serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee—together with then–Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young—instructed Kim to transfer $5 million to North Korea on behalf of Gyeonggi Province for a smart farm project. They also claim that an additional $3 million was to be paid to facilitate Lee’s planned visit to North Korea between January 2019 and January 2020.

President Lee faces five separate criminal indictments, all of which were filed prior to his victory in the early presidential election on June 3.

Three of these trials—a retrial concerning alleged election law violations, a land development scandal in the city of Seongnam, and charges of misusing the Gyeonggi Provincial Office’s corporate credit card—had already been postponed by the courts following the June 3 election.

Another trial concerning allegations of suborning perjury has effectively been put on hold, with no hearing scheduled since May 12, and remains in the appellate stage.