A local court has decided not to permit a live broadcast on Friday, when it is set to deliver a critical verdict in a case against main opposition Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung. 
 
The Seoul Central District Court announced the decision Wednesday, saying it first carried out a comprehensive review of related legal matters.  

Lee is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act by lying during the 2022 presidential election campaign, when he was questioned about a high-profile land development project during his term as mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

Earlier, ruling People Power Party Chairman Han Dong-hoon and other figures from the ruling bloc strongly called for the trial proceedings to be broadcast live. 

The ruling party’s judiciary committee also filed a petition requesting the live broadcast.