Samsung heir's hearing draws record competition for courtroom seats
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A draw takes place for courtroom seats for the upcoming trial of Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong at the Seoul Bankruptcy Court, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kim Bo-eun
A drawing for courtroom seats, Tuesday, for the upcoming hearing of Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong saw the highest competition for a trial related to the presidential scandal so far.
A total of 454 people signed up for the 30 courtroom seats, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Seoul Bankruptcy Court _ recording a 15.1:1 competition rate.
The court drew 30 names among those who signed up and notified them via text messages.
Lee’s final hearing will take place at Seoul Central District Court, Friday.
Public interest has been growing in the trial _ people lined up at 7 a.m. to watch closing arguments beginning at 2 p.m., Aug. 7.
The competition for courtroom seats for the judgment is the most intense yet of the hearings and trials in the scandal.
For former President Park Geun-hye’s first hearing in May the competition rate was 7.7:1 _ 521 signed up for 68 courtroom seats.
For Park’s confidant Choi Soon-sil's first hearing the rate was 2.6:1.
The court said the number of seats for Lee’s hearing were reduced to secure seats for the defendant’s legal representatives and family members and to maintain order. The courtroom has a total of 150 seats.
Lee faces multiple charges including bribery. He is suspected of having promised 43.4 billion won _ 29.8 billion of which was paid _ to Choi and her daughter in return for Cheong Wa Dae facilitating a power transfer from his father, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee.
The presidential office is suspected of having exerted influence for a controversial merger of affiliates _ Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries _ to take place to help Lee gain tighter control over Samsung Group as its successor.
Lee had three private one-on-one meetings with the ex-president from 2014 to 2016, in which he is suspected of having made the request, based on notes from a presidential aide.
Prosecutors are seeking a 12-year prison term for him.
Lee has denied the charges, stating that the money was provided due to coercion from Choi.
Meanwhile, it has not yet been decided whether the judgment will be broadcast live on national television.
Last month, the Supreme Court allowed live broadcasts of lower court hearings. Starting this month, the court does not require the defendants’ consent to broadcast trials if it considers them to be in the public’s interest.