Moon's Bribery Trial: First Preparatory Hearing Begins Today
First Preparatory Hearing Scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on the 17th
Indicted Without Detention in April on Bribery Charges Involving Approximately 200 Million Won
Moon's Legal Team Requests Transfer to Ulsan District Court... Expected to Be Addressed at Hearing
The trial for former President Moon Jae-in's bribery charges will begin on June 17.
On this day at 2:00 p.m., the 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Lee Hyunbok) will hold the first preparatory hearing for the case against the former president, who has been indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery).
It is known that former President Moon will not attend the hearing. The preparatory hearing is a procedure held before the formal trial to confirm the defendant's position on the charges and to establish a plan for the examination of evidence. The defendant is not required to attend.
Previously, on June 11, former President Moon's legal team requested that the case be transferred to the Ulsan District Court, which has jurisdiction over his place of residence. This jurisdictional issue is also expected to be addressed during the hearing.
The former president's attorney explained the reason for the transfer request, stating, "It is inappropriate for the prosecution to cite Seoul as the basis for jurisdiction simply because the president's official duties were carried out there, especially when the prosecution is raising the issue of a broad quid pro quo relationship involving the president." The attorney also asked the court to consider the difficulty for the elderly former president to travel round-trip for 8 to 10 hours with security personnel to attend the trial. On the other hand, the prosecution maintains that, since the case centers around events at the Blue House, the trial should be held at the Seoul Central District Court, which has jurisdiction over the crime scene.
Previously, on May 24, the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office indicted former President Moon without detention at the Seoul Central District Court on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery). Lee Sangjik, former lawmaker and founder of Eastar Jet, was also indicted on charges of bribery and breach of duty.
The prosecution considers that approximately 200 million won in salary and housing expenses received by Mr. Seo, former President Moon's son-in-law, from the airline Thai Eastar Jet constitutes a bribe to the former president. Thai Eastar Jet is an overseas corporate entity effectively owned by former lawmaker Lee, who served as chairman of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency during the Moon Jae-in administration.
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The prosecution requested that the case involving former Blue House personnel chief Cho Hyunok, which is currently ongoing, be merged with former President Moon's case. However, the court did not accept this request. The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Woo Inseong), which is handling Cho's case, explained at a hearing on May 23 that "the two cases have different elements constituting the charges."
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