Seoul: The Seoul Central District Court announced on Tuesday its decision to postpone President Lee Jae-myung's trial related to charges of development corruption and bribery from his time as mayor of Seongnam. This decision mirrors a similar postponement by the Seoul High Court just a day earlier.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the district court indicated that the next hearing in President Lee's trial will be rescheduled to an unspecified future date, citing Article 84 of the Constitution. This article provides immunity to a sitting president from criminal prosecution, except in cases of insurrection or treason.
President Lee was indicted in 2023 on several charges, including breach of duty, conflict of interest, and bribery. These charges are linked to development projects in Seongnam's Daejang-dong and Wirye districts, as well as to the city's municipal football club.
On the preceding Monday, the Seoul High Court also announced an indefinite postponement of President Lee's retrial on election law violation charges, similarly invoking Article 84 of the Constitution.