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Kwon Young-se, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), delivers opening remarks during an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 1. / Photo by Lee Byung-hwa, photolbh@

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on May 1 welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a lower court’s acquittal of opposition Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung in his election law violation case and remand it to the Seoul High Court with a guilty finding.

Conservative lawmakers and presidential candidates quickly called for Lee to withdraw from the race, citing a loss of moral and legal legitimacy.

PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong held a press conference at the National Assembly, declaring the ruling a "victory for common sense and a restoration of the rule of law." He said, “Lee has mocked the law and must take responsibility for his violations by immediately stepping down as a candidate.”

Kweon also condemned the appellate court’s earlier ruling as “anti-constitutional and politically biased,” and urged the high court to swiftly hold retrial proceedings and issue a clear ruling before the June 3 presidential election.

PPP interim chief Kwon Young-se said, “Though the ruling came late, it restores justice. The Supreme Court confirmed that Lee distorted public judgment by spreading falsehoods. He has already lost his qualification as a presidential candidate.” He added, “If he insists on staying in the race after this ruling, it would be a grave insult to the people. Common sense dictates that he should step down.”

Presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo stated, “If Lee has even a shred of conscience, he should resign immediately. Otherwise, the people will deliver judgment themselves.”

Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn echoed the demand in a Facebook post: “Lee Jae-myung, who has effectively been found guilty, must withdraw from the race without delay.”

Candidate Han Dong-hoon said, “Lee’s license to lie has been revoked. His political qualification is effectively nullified. Insisting on running by hiding behind the pending retrial is typical of a legal trickster.”

Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo also called for Lee’s resignation, saying, “The truth cannot be hidden. This ruling, as Lee himself said, is the result of applying the law. The people do not want a president under criminal indictment.”

Rep. Na Kyung-won thanked the Supreme Court for “swiftly correcting the bizarre appellate ruling,” and said, “Now that it has been confirmed that Lee, full of lies, must not become president, we must win this election.” She stressed that the ruling suggests Lee will ultimately lose his eligibility to run for office and said the Democratic Party must replace him immediately.

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun added, “Convicted Lee must bow his head and withdraw his candidacy. The Democratic Party must also apologize for trying to shield him with political maneuvers like ‘self-pardon.’”

PPP chief spokesperson Shin Dong-wook stated in a commentary, “We respect the court’s commonsense ruling. It corrected the appeals court’s deviation from public legal expectations.” He warned that the decision will reignite debates over Lee’s qualifications and the applicability of Article 84 of the Constitution, which grants immunity to sitting presidents.

“The clock is still ticking for ‘defendant Lee Jae-myung,’” Shin said. “We strongly urge the high court to deliver a swift ruling before the election to uphold judicial justice.”