Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon says he respects the decision by a Seoul court to hand down a suspended prison term to main opposition Democratic Party leader Jae-myung for violating the election law. 

Han made the remark on his Facebook account on Friday, saying the court’s decision was in line with the law despite what he described as “armed protests aimed at intimidating the judge.” 

He was apparently referring to a series of rallies that the main opposition party held to denounce alleged influence-peddling by President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee.

Han said his party will, together with the people, defend the judiciary’s independence and its commitment to fairness. 

He added that the ruling camp will pursue further changes and reforms, saying the party decided on Thursday to take steps to appoint a special inspector to look at allegations against members of the president’s family, an effort he said the Democratic Party had blocked for the past five years.

Han’s remarks come soon after the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Lee to one year in prison with a two-year suspension for spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act during the last presidential election.