Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung Faces Crucial Arraignment, Political Future in Balance

Seoul, South Korea - Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at 10:03 a.m. on the 26th for a pre-detention arraignment, an essential step in the legal proceedings against him. Reporters swarmed him with questions as he entered through the court's west entrance, but Lee remained silent, offering no comment. 

The arraignment is expected to conclude between 3 and 4 p.m. today, with results either announced late tonight or tomorrow morning. The court's decision will not only shape the political future of Lee Jae-myung but could also determine the fate of the Democratic Party.

Should the warrant be rejected, it is anticipated to place considerable strain on President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had previously treated Lee as a "criminal" and refrained from meeting him. It would also weigh heavily on the People Power Party, whose members stayed away from the fasting site for 24 days.

For the arraignment, investigative teams from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office have reportedly prepared a 1,600-page statement and a 4-hour PowerPoint presentation of 500 slides. The prosecution submitted a 500-page opinion regarding the "Baekhyun-dong case" and another 800 pages on the "North Korea remittance case." A further 300-page counter-opinion is made to refute the defense's arguments.

The presiding judge for the arraignment, Yoo Chang-hoon of the Seoul Central District Court, is expected to evaluate the warrant based on three critical criteria: the gravity of the charges, potential evidence tampering, and the risk of the defendant's flight. After the review, Lee Jae-myung will await the results at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.