The first trial in the so-called "question transaction" case involving star college entrance exam math instructor Hyeon Woo-jin will open on the 24th at the Seoul Central District Court. Allegations that he received College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) and mock exam questions from an incumbent teacher and paid hundreds of millions of won will be handled in court for the first time. As the trial of English instructor Jo Jeong-sik, indicted in the same "private education cartel" case, has already begun, criminal trials for two flagship instructors in the private education industry are moving into full swing.
According to legal sources on the 23rd, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 10, single-judge bench (Presiding Judge Lee Jae-uk) will hold the first court hearing at 10:40 a.m. that day for four people, including Hyeon, indicted on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Hyeon is accused of receiving questions from three incumbent teachers between 2020 and 2023 who either served on the EBS textbook writing team or had experience as CSAT and mock exam question setters, and paying a little over 400 million won in return.
Prosecutors say that because incumbent teachers fall under public officials under the anti-graft law, providing questions to a particular instructor and receiving money beyond the level of standard manuscript fees constitutes a corrupt transaction that undermined the fairness of public education and trust in the CSAT.
Hyeon's side, while acknowledging immediately after the indictment that questions were procured, has argued that payments were not a separate premium due to the teachers' status, but compensation paid through lawful procedures in line with usual procurement methods such as external question contests and question purchases.
The case began with a request for investigation by the Ministry of Education, leading to a police probe that was followed by a prosecution investigation. Late last year, prosecutors sent a total of 46 people to trial, including Hyeon and Jo, 34 former and incumbent teachers, nine private academy officials, and two college prep academy corporations.
Jo's case held its first preparatory hearing on the 3rd before the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 4, single-judge bench, and Jo's side also denied the charges, calling it a "legitimate transaction." In Hyeon's case as well, the key issue is expected to be whether the question transaction was a customary paid transaction or the improper exchange of money prohibited by the anti-graft law.