"Lee's Two Sons Exempted from Military Service" Lee Sujeong Requests Confirmation of Victim's Wish to Punish

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[The Financial News] The People Power Party's Suwonjeong Party Committee Chair Lee Sujeong, who was fined for posting false claims on social media that President Lee Jae Myung's two sons had been exempted from military service, requested at the first appellate hearing that the court "confirm whether the victim wants punishment."
At the first hearing of the appeal on the case, held on the 21st before Criminal Division 14 of the Suwon High Court, presided over by Judge Heo Yang-yoon, the defense made the request, saying, "This is the first defamation case I have seen in which the victim is not in court and does not appear at all in the investigation record."
The lawyer added, "If the intent to punish had been confirmed, we would have exercised our defense rights in the first trial, such as obtaining the person's identity and seeking a settlement, but there was no such intent in the record." He said, "Only after that can a deposit be made."
The court said, "First, we will proceed with the witness examination of the former aide who was requested as a witness for the next hearing, and then discuss the issue."
Lee was indicted for posting a card news item on her Facebook account on May 28 last year, ahead of the presidential election, containing the phrase "the whole family is male-disabled" and false claims that President Lee's eldest son was exempted from military service due to online gambling and a mental illness, and that his second son was exempted because of a herniated disc. Both of President Lee's sons were found to have completed their military service as Air Force staff sergeants.
Lee Sujeong was fined 3 million won in the first trial and appealed.
The first-trial court noted, "Given the defendant's educational background and social standing, she could have anticipated the impact of posting on her Facebook account. Although she had time to verify the source, she posted immediately. Since she deleted the post after confirming through an aide that it was false, it appears she could easily have judged it to be false, and thus she can be seen as having had at least eventual intent."
The next hearing is scheduled for June 9.
gaa1003@fnnews.com An Ga-eul Reporter