Court Rejects Jeon Gwang-hoon's Request to Summon Moon as Witness: "Witness Examination Unnecessary"

"Former Presidents Have No Records of Being Summoned in Defamation Cases"

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon (President of the Korea Christian Federation)

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon (Chairman of the Korea Christian Federation), who was indicted for defaming President Moon Jae-in, argued that President Moon should be called as a witness in court, but the court did not accept the request.

On the 11th, the 34th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Heo Seon-ah) held the third trial for Pastor Jeon, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation, and announced, "The defendant's (Pastor Jeon) request to call Moon (the President) as a witness is dismissed."

The court pointed out, "Since defamation is not a crime requiring a complaint, the victim's accusation is not necessary, nor is the victim's testimony required, and it is unclear what facts the defendant intends to prove through witness examination."

It also stated, "The defendant claims that there are almost no cases where a defamation case proceeds without the victim's testimony, but in many defamation cases involving former presidents such as Park Geun-hye, Lee Myung-bak, Roh Moo-hyun, and Kim Dae-jung, there has been no case where the president was summoned and questioned as a witness."

Pastor Jeon's defense attorney expressed a desire to confirm, in the form of a factual inquiry instead of witness examination, whether President Moon intends to punish Pastor Jeon, and the court accepted this.

Pastor Jeon is accused of conducting pre-election campaigning by repeatedly urging support for right-wing parties including the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the United Future Party) at rallies in Gwanghwamun Square ahead of the general election held in April this year, violating the Public Official Election Act. Additionally, he was charged with defamation for statements such as "The president is a spy" and "The president attempted to communistize the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon’s duties as chairman of the Korea Christian Federation have been suspended following a provisional injunction filed by the Federation’s Emergency Committee members, which was accepted by the court.