Moon Jae-in is accused of facilitating his son-in-law's employment with alleged corrupt motives tied to a failed airline venture.
Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in Indicted on Bribery Charges
Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in Indicted on Bribery Charges
The indictment of ex-President Moon marks a significant event in South Korea's political landscape, adding to a pattern of legal scrutiny for former leaders.
Former President Moon Jae-in of South Korea has been indicted on bribery charges, further fueling the ongoing trend of legal actions against former political leaders in the nation. The former president, whose term ended in 2022, faces allegations linked to the employment of his former son-in-law at a now-defunct budget airline in Thailand, according to a report from prosecutors on Thursday.
The indictment outlines that Moon's son-in-law, married to his daughter Da-hye at the time, received approximately 217 million won (around $150,000) from the airline in salary and living allowances between 2018 and 2020. Jeonju's district prosecutor's office asserts that these payments are classified as a bribe from Lee Sang-jik, a businessman connected to the airline who previously served in government roles under Moon's administration.
Lee allegedly appointed the son-in-law as an executive despite his lack of qualifications, viewing it as a favor to the Moon family. Lee, who had a prominent role in a government agency promoting small businesses and was once a lawmaker with Moon’s Democratic Party, lost his parliamentary position after being convicted on embezzlement and election law offenses.
Prosecutors further stated that Moon utilized his presidential staff to orchestrate his son-in-law’s job placement and his move to Thailand, raising additional ethical concerns regarding the use of political influence for personal matters. The indictment underscores the intense political polarization in South Korea, where the prosecution of former leaders has become an increasingly loaded issue.
The indictment outlines that Moon's son-in-law, married to his daughter Da-hye at the time, received approximately 217 million won (around $150,000) from the airline in salary and living allowances between 2018 and 2020. Jeonju's district prosecutor's office asserts that these payments are classified as a bribe from Lee Sang-jik, a businessman connected to the airline who previously served in government roles under Moon's administration.
Lee allegedly appointed the son-in-law as an executive despite his lack of qualifications, viewing it as a favor to the Moon family. Lee, who had a prominent role in a government agency promoting small businesses and was once a lawmaker with Moon’s Democratic Party, lost his parliamentary position after being convicted on embezzlement and election law offenses.
Prosecutors further stated that Moon utilized his presidential staff to orchestrate his son-in-law’s job placement and his move to Thailand, raising additional ethical concerns regarding the use of political influence for personal matters. The indictment underscores the intense political polarization in South Korea, where the prosecution of former leaders has become an increasingly loaded issue.
