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Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon Sarangjeil Church, who had been tried for violation of the Public Official Election Act and defamation, was freed after being acquitted at the first trial.
The judge emphasized that laws restricting freedom of expression should be strictly applied.
This is Park Jae-hyun.
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Jeon Kwang-hoon, pastor of Sarangjeil Church, walks out of the courthouse surrounded by supporters.
He was sentenced innocent at the first trial and was released immediately.
[Pastor Jeon Kwang-Hoon/Sarang Jeil Church: Korea won.] Pastor Jeon confronted
President Moon Jae-in on charges of violating the Public Officials Election Act, requesting support for free-right political parties in general elections at Gwanghwamun rally from last December to last January. It was handed over to trial in March on charges of defamation of Korea.
First of all, the court judged that the former pastor's remarks were not subject to the conditions of the election campaign under the Public Officials Election Act, saying, "Even the party to support was not specified and no candidates were decided.
In particular, he stressed that laws restricting freedom of expression, the foundation of a democratic society, should be strictly applied.
In addition, he was found not guilty of defaming President Moon's reputation by saying that the president was a spy and the president tried to communize.
"The remarks are just metaphors or exaggerations that criticize political orientation," he added. "The verification of public officials' political ideology should be made more freely in the free market of thought."
Previously, the pastor was arrested in February and released on bail after two months. After violating the conditions of bail, he was imprisoned again in September and tried under arrest.
Pastor Jeon announced that he is planning to hold a press conference at Sarangjeil Church tomorrow (31st) morning.
(Video coverage: Yang Doo-won, video editing: Kim Jun-hee, CG: Lee Yoo-jin)