Moon Jae-in's bribery jury trial set for 11-22 January, with 18 witnesses
In short
The Seoul Central District Court said on 20 October that former President Moon Jae-in's bribery case will go to a citizen-participation jury trial running 10 days from 11 January. The court adopted 18 witnesses, including Moon's daughter and former son-in-law, out of the many more the prosecution requested.
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The Seoul Central District Court said on 20 October that the jury trial of former President Moon Jae-in (문재인) on bribery charges will run for 10 days, from 11 to 22 January 2027. Criminal Division 21, presided over by Cho Soon-pyo (조순표), set the schedule at the eighth preparatory hearing in the case, which also covers former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik (이상직). Moon did not attend, since defendants are not required to appear at such hearings. Lee, who Chosun Ilbo said is serving a prison term finalised in an embezzlement case, appeared in prison clothes. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
On the first day, jury selection is held in the morning, with 9 jurors and 2 alternates, and the first hearing follows in the afternoon, Seoul Economic Daily reported. Yonhap said prosecutors will begin their statement of the charges that afternoon. Witness questioning is set for 12 to 14 January, and Kyunghyang Shinmun said Moon and Lee must attend the first hearing. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
The court adopted 18 witnesses, including Moon's daughter Moon Da-hye (문다혜) and former son-in-law Seo. Chosun Ilbo said prosecutors had first requested about 100 witnesses, while Seoul Economic Daily and Yonhap put the figure at 110. The court said that, as far as it knew, no earlier jury trial had questioned so many witnesses. As reported by Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily, it warned that if a witness does not appear without justifiable reason, the case may be moved to the ordinary criminal procedure. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that prosecutors asked for three more witnesses and the defence objected that they were unrelated to the core charges. The court adopted them. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Moon was indicted without detention in April last year. Prosecutors say Seo, then Moon's son-in-law, was hired as an executive at Thai Eastar Jet, a Thai low-cost airline Lee actually owned, and that about 200 million won in pay and housing costs he received was a bribe to Moon. Chosun Ilbo put the sum at 217 million won, covering August 2018 to April 2020. Kyunghyang Shinmun said Moon's side denies involvement in Seo's hiring. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Lee faces charges of bribery and of breach of trust for hiring Seo. Chosun Ilbo reported that prosecutors believe Moon gave Lee the chairmanship of the Small and Medium Venture Business Promotion Corporation (중소벤처기업진흥공단) in March 2018 and helped him win the Democratic Party nomination in the April 2020 general election in return. Chosun Ilbo also reported that prosecutors suspended prosecution of Moon's daughter and Seo. [ 1 , 5 ]
After the witnesses, the defendants will be questioned. Yonhap said prosecutors plan 30 minutes for each, and that Moon's lawyer expects him to use his right to silence. The next preparatory hearing is set for 17 November. Chosun Ilbo said sentencing will follow the trial and that courts often, though not always, follow the jury's verdict. Yonhap said the case had been in preparatory proceedings for more than a year, and Seoul Economic Daily said it was paused after a change of judges in February and resumed in July. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The schedule fixes the start of a formal trial after more than a year of preparatory proceedings. The court said the jury format could be dropped if key witnesses do not appear, so witness attendance will shape how the case proceeds.
Key facts
- Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21, presided over by Cho Soon-pyo (조순표), held the eighth preparatory hearing on 20 October and set the jury trial schedule. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The trial is to run 10 days, from 11 to 22 January 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Jury selection takes place on the first morning, with 9 jurors and 2 alternates, and the first hearing follows the same day. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Witness questioning is scheduled for 12 to 14 January. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The court adopted 18 witnesses, including Moon's daughter Moon Da-hye (문다혜) and former son-in-law Seo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Prosecutors allege that about 200 million won in pay and housing costs paid to Seo by Thai Eastar Jet (타이이스타젯) was a bribe to Moon; Moon's side says he was not involved in Seo's hiring. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The next preparatory hearing is set for 17 November. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The jury trial will run 10 days from 11 January to 22 January 2027, with jury selection on the first day. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The court adopted 18 witnesses, including Moon Da-hye and former son-in-law Seo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The court said that, as far as it knew, no earlier jury trial had questioned this many witnesses, and asked for cooperation in getting witnesses to attend. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Moon did not attend the 20 October preparatory hearing, where defendants are not required to appear; Lee Sang-jik (이상직) did. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Moon's lawyer indicated that Moon is expected to use his right to remain silent during defendant questioning. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Moon was indicted in April last year on a charge of taking bribes tied to Seo's job at Thai Eastar Jet, which Lee actually owned. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- How many witnesses the prosecution requested. Chosun Ilbo says about 100, Seoul Economic Daily says around 110 and Yonhap says 110.
- Whether the three additional prosecution witnesses are counted in the 18. Kyunghyang Shinmun says the court adopted three more witnesses requested by the prosecution over the defence's objection, but gives 18 as the total without saying whether they are included.
- Whether the case will stay a jury trial. The court said, as reported by Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily, that if key witnesses fail to appear without justifiable reason the case may be sent to the ordinary criminal procedure.
- Whether Moon was involved in Seo's hiring. Prosecutors say Moon conspired with his daughter's family; Moon's side denies any involvement, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo published its report on the schedule set at the eighth preparatory hearing held on 20 October. [ 1 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reported the dispute over three added prosecution witnesses at the hearing. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reported that the court announced the case would be tried by jury starting 11 January. [ 5 ]