Conviction of South Korean opposition leader is overturned

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An appeals court in South Korea overturned an election law conviction against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung Wednesday, potentially clearing the way for him to mount a presidential campaign.

The courtroom victory comes as the country's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol could face an early exit due to his short-lived imposition of martial law and surveys show Lee, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party who narrowly lost the 2022 election to Yoon, is the early favorite to replace him.

Yoon, a conservative, has been suspended from office since the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached him over his Dec. 3 martial law decree plunged the country into political turmoil. The Constitutional Court is deliberating on whether to formally dismiss or reinstate him. If he's removed, there will be an election to replace him within two months.

On Wednesday, the Seoul High Court overturned Lee's conviction for making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign, canceling his suspended sentence of a year in prison. Lee still faces four other criminal trials, none of which are likely to be resolved soon.

Lee was convicted by the Seoul Central District Court in November of making false statements about a controversial land development project launched when he was a city mayor, and about his relationships with a subordinate who killed himself after being embroiled in a scandal surrounding another development project.

Under South Korean law, anyone who receives a fine exceeding 1 million won ($683) for election law violations is barred from running for elections for five years, and anyone who receives a prison sentence, including suspended sentences, cannot run for 10 years.

Lee might be able to become president despite his conviction in lower-level courts, as the prohibition does not go into force until all appeals are exhausted and as president he would have immunity from most criminal prosecution. Still, observers say that if the appellate court had upheld his conviction it could have posed a significant political challenge.

After the ruling, Lee appeared outside the court and thanked the court for making “a right ruling based on truth and justices” as his supporters shouted his name. Lee accused the Yoon government and state prosecutors of having fabricated evidence against him.

The court said that prosecutors have seven days to appeal Wednesday’s verdict to the Supreme Court, the top court in South Korea.

Yoon's ruling People Power Party expressed strong regret over Wednesday's ruling, saying the Supreme Court must rule quickly on an appeal.

Police officers stand guard as demonstrators stage a rally demanding the arrest of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung near the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Demonstrators stage a rally demanding the arrest of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung near the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The letters read, "Immediately arrest Lee Jae-myung." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Demonstrators stage a rally demanding the arrest of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung near the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The letters read, "Immediately arrest Lee Jae-myung." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Lee Jae-myung, center, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Lee Jae-myung, second right in front, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Lee Jae-myung, center, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Lee Jae-myung, center, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

Lee Jae-myung, center, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

PHOENIX (AP) — Kyle Tucker hit his first home run with the Chicago Cubs, leading his new team to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

Shota Imanaga pitched seven effective innings as Chicago bounced back from Friday's 8-1 loss to Arizona. Ryan Pressly worked a rocky ninth inning for his first save with the Cubs.

Tucker had three hits. With one out in the fifth and Jon Berti aboard after a leadoff single, Tucker hit a drive to right off Brandon Pfaadt to give Chicago a 3-1 lead.

Tucker was acquired in a December trade with Houston.

Rookie Matt Shaw added his first major league homer for the Cubs, a pinch-hit drive to left in the seventh off Jalen Beeks.

Imanaga (1-0) allowed one run and three hits in his second start of the season.

Chicago had its lead cut to 4-3 on Eugenio Suárez's two-run drive off Pressly in the ninth. It was Suárez’s major league-high fourth homer this season.

With two out and two runners on, Corbin Carroll hit a chopper to shortstop Dansby Swanson. The speedy Carroll reached on an infield single, but pinch-runner Garrett Hampson overran third and was tagged by Swanson for the final out of the game.

Pressly was acquired in a trade with the Astros in January.

Pfaadt (0-1) allowed six hits in six innings in his first start since he agreed to a $45 million, five-year deal with Arizona.

Gage Workman made his MLB debut for the Cubs, batting eighth and playing third base. He struck out twice and made a nice play in the field, backhanding a grounder and throwing out Suárez.

Workman, a Rule 5 pick from Detroit in December, grew up in nearby Chandler and played at Arizona State.

The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong threw out Josh Naylor trying to advance to third on a fly to center field to end the Arizona fourth. Naylor was originally ruled safe by umpire Phil Cuzzi but the call was overturned on review.

The Diamondbacks went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

Chicago’s Matthew Boyd opposes Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez in a battle of lefties in Sunday’s series finale.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga has a moment to himself in the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw, right, smiles after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw, center, smiles after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, right, gets a forearm bump from Seiya Suzuki (27) after after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)