Criminal Trials of Former Presidents Yoon and Moon [This Week's Court Schedule]

[Financial News] This week (8th~12th), criminal trials for two former presidents will be held in court. Former President Yoon Seok-yeol's trial for insurrection charges is scheduled, and the decision on whether to apply for a jury trial will be made at the second pretrial hearing for former President Moon Jae-in's 'son-in-law's preferential treatment' case. Additionally, the second mediation process in the exclusive contract dispute between girl group NewJeans and their agency Adore will proceed.
According to the legal community on the 7th, the 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-bok) will hold the second pretrial hearing for former President Moon on the 9th at 2 PM. Former President Moon was indicted last April on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery) in connection with the preferential hiring of his former son-in-law at an airline. The pretrial hearing is a procedure to organize issues and confirm evidence plans before the formal trial, and the defendant is not required to attend. Former President Moon did not attend the first pretrial hearing held in June.
Moon's side submitted a 'jury trial intention confirmation' to the court on the 29th of last month. Although they verbally expressed their intention to participate at the first pretrial hearing in June, this time it was confirmed in a formal document. The defense team explained at the first pretrial hearing that "it is necessary to conduct a jury trial because we cannot agree with the prosecution's witness and evidence application based on the bribery relationship." In response, the court stated, "The key is how long the trial period for this case will take," and "if 10 to 30 trial dates are scheduled, it cannot proceed as a jury trial."
The prosecution believes that former President Moon had his former son-in-law Seo Mo hired at the airline T'way Air, owned by former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, and received approximately 217 million won under the pretext of salary and relocation expenses. In return, former President Moon appointed former lawmaker Lee as the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation (SBC). Moon's side submitted three opinions in July, arguing that the prosecution violated the principle of Japanese indictment (the principle that content not directly related to the crime should not be included).
The trial for former President Yoon's insurrection charges, scheduled for the 8th, is likely to proceed as a trial in absentia, as former President Yoon has not attended seven consecutive times recently.
The lawsuit over the validity of the exclusive contract between girl group NewJeans and Adore will have its second mediation on the 11th at 1:30 PM at the 41st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il). The first mediation on the 14th of last month did not reach a conclusion.
Previously, the court requested the direct attendance of NewJeans members to hear both sides' positions and resolve the dispute. If the mediation is successful, it will have the same effect as a settlement in court, ending the case, but if it fails, a verdict is scheduled for October 30.
Adore filed a lawsuit last December, claiming that NewJeans unilaterally notified them of the termination of the exclusive contract and that the contract is valid. Adore stated, "There is no reason for the breakdown of trust as we have faithfully fulfilled the opportunities for activities and revenue settlement." On the other hand, NewJeans argued that after the expulsion of former representative Min Hee-jin, there was no reliable counterpart as a contract partner, and the trust relationship had already been broken.
 

scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter