Seoul: A South Korean court on Wednesday acquitted opposition leader Lee Jae-myung in a so-called "lying case," clearing the way for his potential run in the next presidential election. Lee, the leader of the Democratic Party, was originally sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term for allegedly making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign, in violation of South Korea's election laws.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Seoul High Court overturned the ruling, leading Lee to assert that the case was politically motivated. He also criticized the waste of energy and public resources involved in the trial. Under South Korean law, politicians convicted of election law violations are barred from running for office for five years.

The acquittal positions Lee as a likely front-runner in the upcoming elections, contingent on the outcome of the impeachment proceedings against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was impeached by parliament for his Dec. 3 bid to impose martial law. If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, presidential polls are due within two months of the ruling.

Before the martial law scandal, Yoon's five-year term was set to end in 2027. Lee narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, garnering 47.8% of the vote compared to Yoon's 48.6%.