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After being charged with 12 counts of corruption

On May 28, former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak, 77, did not appear for the second hearing in his trial for “health reasons.” His case is being tried by Hon. Jeong Gye-seon, a judge in the 27th criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court.

On May 25, Lee submitted a document to the court stating that his poor health prevented him from attending an evidentiary review and that he would only appear in court when he was expressly told to do so.

“The defendant says that his attendance is not necessary during the evidentiary review, but the defendant does not have the authority to decide whether or not his attendance is necessary, just as with the trial judge. As the former president is aware of all these legal obligations, one cannot help but wonder whether he has decided [not to appear in court],” Jeong said during the hearing. “The assumption on the part of the defendant that he can selectively attend criminal proceedings is, in a certain sense, a violation of the law.”

“As we have seen in the previous trial, the defendant’s health does not appear to be such that he cannot make an appearance,” Jeong observed. The court has ordered Lee to appear at each scheduled hearing, and court was adjourned after just 12 minutes because “the trial cannot be held without the defendant being present.”

“Lee got upset because he didn’t see what the problem was, given his understanding that the trial can proceed in his absence after certain steps have been taken as long as he expressed his intention not to appear in court,” an attorney named Kang Hun who has reportedly met with Lee told reporters on the afternoon of May 28.

“Lee thought that perhaps the court didn’t understand the state of his health.”

“Lee’s view is that appearing in court must be regarded as the right, and not the duty, of the defendant. In light of that, he will be deciding whether or not to appear in court based on his physical condition,” Kang added.

By Ko Han-sol, staff reporter

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