South Korea Court Dismisses Arrest Warrant Request for Opposition Leader

The court said there were insufficient grounds to support the prosecutors’ claim that the opposition leader may try to destroy evidence.

South Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party poses for a photo before a televised debate for the upcoming March 9 presidential election at KBS studio in Seoul on March 2, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

South Korea’s court on Wednesday rejected an arrest warrant request filed by prosecutors against opposition leader and former presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung over corruption charges.

The Seoul Central District Court has denied the prosecutors’ request to arrest the Democratic Party leader, citing the absence of a clear risk that Mr. Lee might tamper with evidence.