Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted former President Moon Jae-in on charges of bribery, alleging that his former son-in-law, identified only as Seo, was appointed to a high-ranking position at a major airline in exchange for political favors.
Seo, who had little experience in the aviation industry, was hired as an executive director of the airline’s subsidiary, Thai Eastar Jet, between 2018 and 2020. Despite lacking relevant qualifications, prosecutors argue that his position was secured in return for the airline’s CEO using his influence to lead a state-funded agency, the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. Seo reportedly received a total of 217 million won ($150,000) in salary and housing support, a sum prosecutors claim was intended as a bribe to Moon.
Moon, who served as South Korea’s president from 2017 to 2022, is best known for his efforts to negotiate a peace deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. His indictment adds him to a long list of South Korean leaders whose careers have been tainted by scandal, including jail time, assassination, and suicide.
In addition to Moon, former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik has also been indicted on charges of bribery and breach of trust. Lee, who founded the budget airline Eastar Jet, was appointed head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency in 2018, the same year Seo was hired at Eastar Jet’s subsidiary.
This indictment comes amidst broader investigations into Moon’s administration, including the recent indictment of his former national security advisor and defense minister for allegedly leaking intelligence to activists. The South Korean prosecution service, often accused of political bias, has faced criticism for what some see as a politically motivated campaign against former officials from Moon’s administration.
Moon’s political party, the Democratic Party, has condemned the indictment, calling it a “politically motivated move aimed at humiliating a former president.” The investigation is seen as part of a wider shift in power, with the current government under acting President Han Duck-soo of the People Power Party conducting the prosecutions.
The case has further fueled South Korea’s deeply polarized political environment, as critics of the prosecution argue that the investigations are politically charged, while those in favor say that holding officials accountable for corruption is necessary for the country’s democratic health.
Chioma Kalu
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