If it stands, the ruling could significantly shake up the country’s politics by potentially unseating Lee Jae-myung as a lawmaker and denying him a shot at running for president.

A South Korean court on Friday convicted the country’s opposition leader of violating election laws, casting a shadow over the political prospects of a man who has been considered a top contender to be the nation’s next president.

A South Korean court handed the country's opposition leader a suspended prison sentence Friday for violating election laws -- a ruling that may prevent him from running in the next presidential election.