Politics · South Korea · 7 hrs ago
Moss Tan’s new and former lawyers dispute fees as defamation trial continues
Moss Tan, a Korean-American former US official, is on trial in South Korea over remarks about President Lee Jae-myung’s youth.
Prosecutors accuse Tan of spreading false claims that Lee was involved in a serious crime as a teenager and was sent to a juvenile facility.
Tan has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers argue that South Korean courts have no jurisdiction and that the remarks were not false statements.
Tan’s new lawyers say the former team worked for free and later demanded a large fee.
The former lawyers say they discussed payment, including a plan to raise funds, and that Tan changed the proposed terms before dismissing them.
The two sides disagree over whether fees were agreed, and the accounts of the dismissal also differ.
Tan’s defense must submit material related to his remarks by December 15, with the next hearing set for December 18.
Moss Tan’s new and former lawyers are disputing whether he agreed to pay fees for his defence in a defamation case.
Tan’s former lawyers say he proposed fundraising for their fees, then changed the terms and dismissed them.
His new lawyer says the former team had agreed to provide free representation and later demanded a large fee.
The former lawyers also say they lacked evidence to support Tan’s claims about South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s past.
Tan has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is continuing in Seoul.
- Who
- Moss Tan, his former lawyers and his new lawyer, So Jeong-im.
- What
- Tan’s new and former lawyers dispute whether fees were agreed or owed, as he faces a defamation trial.
- When
- The dispute was reported on October 19, 2026. Tan’s first trial hearing was held on October 16.
- Where
- The trial is at the Seoul Central District Court in South Korea. Tan’s alleged remarks were made in Washington, DC.
- Why
- The lawyers disagree over fee arrangements and the circumstances of the former team’s dismissal.
Moss Tan and his new lawyer
Tan’s former lawyers
Fee agreement
Moss Tan and his new lawyer
So Jeong-im says the former lawyers had no fee agreement with Tan and provided free representation.
Tan’s former lawyers
The former lawyers say they discussed fees, including a fundraising arrangement, and that Tan later changed the terms.
Reason for dismissal
Moss Tan and his new lawyer
So Jeong-im says Tan replaced the team because of concerns about its conduct and representation.
Tan’s former lawyers
The former lawyers say Tan dismissed them after changing the proposed fee arrangements and not responding to a request to discuss the changes.
Tan’s former lawyers say he proposed fundraising instead of paying them directly.
The former lawyers say they agreed to the fundraising arrangement.
The former lawyers say Tan proposed a lump-sum payment and then reduced the total fee and prohibited fundraising.
Tan filed a notice dismissing his former lawyers and appointed So Jeong-im and others.
Tan’s first trial hearing was held in Seoul; he pleaded not guilty, and his defence challenged the court’s jurisdiction and disputed that his remarks were false.
Tan’s former lawyers and his new lawyer publicly set out opposing accounts of the fee dispute.
- Case
- Defamation charges involving remarks about President Lee Jae Myung
- New lawyer
- So Jeong-im
- Former lawyers
- Ha-sang Lee, Ji-mi Kim and Young-il Ko
- Former team’s proposed fees
- $40,000 per lawyer, or $120,000 in total, according to the former lawyers
- Tan’s reported later fee proposal
- $30,000 for all trial stages, including the appeal, according to the former lawyers
- Next trial hearing
- December 18, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
The former lawyers did not sign a fee agreement with Tan, and the former team provided free representation; Tan also understood it to be free.
If this matter is not resolved amicably, we will seek all necessary legal measures and remedies.
Tan proposed fundraising instead of paying fees directly on September 10 this year.
Tan did not provide the lawyers with evidence on this matter.