"Round trip takes 10 hours… Consideration of age and security conditions is necessary."

Former President Moon Jae-in, who has been indicted on charges of bribery, requested that his criminal trial be held at the Ulsan District Court instead of the Seoul court. He cited the protection of the defendant's rights and security issues as reasons for this request.

According to legal sources on the 11th, the defense team for former President Moon submitted a request for case transfer to the Criminal Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Lee Hyun-bok). Currently, Moon is detained at the Seoul Southern Correctional Facility, with an actual residence address in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ulsan District Court.

Article 4, Section 1 of the Criminal Procedure Act establishes the jurisdiction as 'the location of the crime, the defendant's residence, or current location.' Accordingly, Moon's defense team argues that the trial location should be determined based on his residence.

"Indictment for the convenience of the prosecution… Disregard for the defendant's fundamental rights."

Kim Hyung-yeon, the attorney representing former President Moon (a former head of the Legislative Affairs Office), pointed out, "To attend a trial once, it takes four to five hours one way, totaling 8 to 10 hours for a round trip," emphasizing that "former President Moon is a 73-year-old ex-head of state and requires security. Ignoring such circumstances in this indictment is a violation of human rights."

Kim further asserted, "The fact that the originally reported case was transferred from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office for four years of investigation and then indicted again in Seoul suggests that the location of the crime is of little significance," claiming that "the prosecution chose Seoul for their convenience in maintaining the indictment."

Prior to this, the prosecution stated, "Most of former President Moon's offenses occurred at the Blue House in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and most related persons and evidence are concentrated in Seoul," explaining the reason for indicting him in the Seoul Central District Court.

Reviewing public participation in the trial… First preliminary hearing is scheduled for the 17th.

Along with the transfer request, former President Moon has also appointed his past established 'Busan Law Firm' to his defense team. Keeping in mind the possibility of the transfer being accepted, he submitted a request for a change of the hearing date as well. The first preliminary hearing is scheduled for the 17th, and the defendant is not obligated to attend.

Former President Moon is also considering applying for a public participation trial. Attorney Kim stated, "Once the issue of the transfer is resolved, we will present our opinion on the matter of public participation."

Earlier, Lee Sang-jik, a former member of the Democratic Party who was indicted alongside Moon, also submitted a transfer request to be tried at the Jeonju District Court, expressing his desire for a public participation trial. Lee is currently detained at the Jeonju Correctional Facility.

"Bribery charges in exchange for employment at Thai SkyJet."

Former President Moon was indicted without detention on April 24 for bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Between August 2018 and April 2020, while he was in office, his 'former son-in-law' Seo Mo received approximately 217 million won under the guise of salary and housing expenses for his employment at the low-cost airline 'Thai SkyJet,' owned in fact by former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik.

The prosecution argues that this amount essentially constitutes a bribe to the former President and his wife. They reason that the cessation of financial support for the lifestyle of their daughter and her husband after Seo's employment with the airline is evidence of this.

Former lawmaker Lee has been indicted for allegedly providing bribes to former President Moon.

Image source: News1, Insight, former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik / News1