The United States has not labeled South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as a “criminal,” despite some Korean-language posts referencing a report from the research division of the legislative branch. The December 2024 report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) looked into South Korea’s political turmoil after the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, and mentioned that Lee — who was expected to be the leading candidate for an early election — had faced allegations of crimes that could disqualify him from holding public office if convicted.
“US Congress officially labeled Lee Jae Myung as a criminal,” states Korean-language text in a graphic shared onFacebook on September 16, 2025.
The image also features what seem to be pictures of the South Korean president and a report from the CRS alongside additional Korean text stating, “There is no alliance for a criminal” and “The US has already left Lee Jae Myung behind.”
The identical image was extensively circulated among conservative groupsusers and groups on Facebook.
The image was also utilized as the thumbnail for aYouTube videoIn July, the video states: “The CRS, in an official report from 2022, clearly identifies Lee as a criminal… This is not merely a political attack but an official assessment recognized by both parties in the United States.”
But the statement is incorrect.
The document referenced in the misleading posts waspublishedIn December 2024, not 2022, and even though it mentioned claims against Lee, it did not label him as a criminal.archived link).
Named “South Korean Political Crisis: Martial Law and Impeachment,” the report examined the political instability that arose after the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol due to a failed imposition of martial law earlier in the month.
“The timing of the court’s decision [regarding Yoon’s impeachment] might be significant since the likely leading candidate for an early election, DP (Democratic Party) leader Lee Jae-myung, is involved in several legal cases where a guilty verdict could disqualify him from holding public office,” it states.
[Lee] is charged with corruption, breaking election laws, and being part of an illegal cash transfer to North Korea. He isappealing a November 2024conviction related to election law that prevents him from seeking public office.
Lee’s continuous challenges have beensuspendedfollowing his election as president, under a constitutional provision that provides the officeholder with protection from legal actionarchived link).
According to a disclaimerOn the Congress website, CRS reports have no legal authority and “should not be used for anything other than gaining public insight into the information” given to legislators.archived link).
Separate searchesCRS databases do not indicate any case where Lee was referred to as a “criminal” (archived link).
There are alsono other Congressional documentsdetailing Lee’s ongoing trials.
AFP has debunked multiple false claims about purported US responses to South Korean politics.
