Opposition chief wins appeal

A South Korean appeals court yesterday reversed a lower court's ruling and found main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung not guilty of violating the election law, removing a barrier that could have blocked him from running for president.

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Following the ruling, Mr Lee said the decision by the Seoul High Court completely vindicated him and proved the case was politically motivated. "It is truly outrageous that all this energy and national resources were spent for what is an obvious outcome," he said.

Mr Lee was handed a one-year prison term suspended for two years by the Seoul Central District Court last year, a penalty that if it had been upheld would have jeopardised his bid to run in the next presidential election.