Home > National > Politics

Court to decide whether to hold jury trial for ex-President Moon in November

Published: 09 Sep. 2025, 17:57

Former President Moon Jae-in attends a book fair in Jeonju, North Jeolla, on Sept. 5. [YONHAP]

A Seoul court said Tuesday it will decide in November whether to accept former President Moon Jae-in's request to hold a jury trial for his bribery case.

Moon has been standing trial on charges of receiving 217 million won ($156,000) from former Rep. Lee Sang-jik in the form of a salary and living expenses for his then son-in-law, surnamed Seo, in exchange for Lee's appointment as head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

Seo was hired by Thailand-based budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet, whose parent company Eastar Jet, Lee founded.

During the trial's second preparatory hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, the bench said it would hold a third such hearing on Nov. 25 and decide then whether to hold a jury trial.

The decision will be based on a review of the selection of evidence and whether the number of witnesses can be reduced to seven or eight, it said.

The bench also rejected for the second time Moon's request to transfer his case to the district court in Ulsan, saying circumstances have not changed since June when it dismissed the request, citing the need for both parties — the recipient and the donor — to be present at a bribery trial.

Ulsan is close to Moon's home in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang.

Moon was absent from the hearing; his attendance was not required as it was during the main trial. Lee, who is currently jailed in the southwestern city of Jeonju, North Jeolla, was present.

Yonhap