Lee Hwa-young, the former deputy governor of Gyeonggi Province’s Peace Department, filed an appeal with the Suwon District Court on Sunday [1].
The move challenges a first-instance ruling that found Lee guilty of perjury. The case centers on disputed testimony regarding a "salmon drinking party," a detail that has become a focal point in broader legal scrutiny of regional governance and political conduct.
Lee was sentenced to four months in prison [1]. His legal team argues that the court failed to recognize that the drinking party actually took place, and that the prosecution provided insufficient evidence to prove perjury [1], [2].
Defense attorneys said the trial court misinterpreted the facts of the case and applied legal principles incorrectly. They pointed to the composition of the initial proceedings to suggest a lack of consensus on the guilt of the defendant.
According to the defense, three jurors expressed the opinion that Lee was not guilty, which they argue demonstrates that the evidence for a conviction was insufficient [2].
"The court's first-instance decision did not acknowledge the salmon drinking party," the defense said [1].
Legal representatives for Lee said that the trial court's judgment on the facts was flawed and that there were problems with the application of the law [1]. The appeal seeks to overturn the four-month sentence and clear Lee's name regarding the perjury charges.
“Lee was sentenced to four months in prison”
This appeal reflects a critical legal battle over the credibility of witnesses in high-profile political cases. By focusing on the 'salmon drinking party' and the dissenting opinions of jurors, the defense is attempting to create reasonable doubt about the prosecution's evidence. The outcome of this appeal will determine whether the original four-month sentence stands or if the court accepts that the factual record was misinterpreted during the first trial.
