In addition, Representative Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party appeared in court for the first time this morning (3rd) for making false statements during the last presidential election.

Appearing at the first hearing for violating the Public Offices Election Act at 10:30 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Law in Seocho-gu, Lee did not answer reporters' questions about whether he did not know former Chief Kim Moon-ki and headed straight to the courtroom.

Reporters also did not respond to questions about the charges to be addressed at today's hearing.

Representative Lee finished his morning National Assembly schedule and traveled from Yeouido to Seocho-dong.

As he drove away, he saw a group supporting him rally on Seocho-gu Court Street, so he rolled down his window and waved hello.

More than an hour before Lee's trial began, various groups set up loudspeakers and held a rally with hand signs.

The South Korean Patriotic Patrol Team, a conservative group, held hand signs that read "Removal of Lee Jae-myung is the people's order" and "Arrest of Lee Jae-myung is the people's life" and called for Lee to be punished.

The progressive-leaning National Action Movement for Democratic Reform held signs such as "Yoon Seok-yeol deposed" and "Condemn the dictatorship of the prosecutor" and criticized the prosecutor's investigation of Lee.

Lee is accused of publishing false facts about the late Kim Moon-ki, the first director of development at the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, in a broadcast interview on December 1, 2021, when he was a candidate for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, saying, "I didn't know about it when I was mayor."

On October 12, 22, he was accused of publishing false facts during the Gyeonggi Province government audit of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee, denying allegations of preferential treatment for repurposing the site of Baekhyun-dong Korea Food Research Institute.

Seoul Central District Law's Criminal Settlement Section 1 (Chief Judge Kang Kyu-tae) set the first trial date for today after three trial preparation days.

Unlike formal trial dates, the trial preparation date can be held without the accused, so today is the first time that Mr. Lee will be in court in person in this case.

The court is scheduled to hear every other Friday.