In brief
In a striking continuation of South Korea's trend of holding former leaders accountable, former President Moon Jae-in has been indicted for bribery involving the employment of his former son-in-law at a Thai airline, marking another chapter in the nation's fraught political narrative.
Former President Moon Jae-in of South Korea faces a bribery accusation as the country's tumultuous political climate sees yet another former leader facing legal scrutiny. Prosecutors have charged Moon regarding financial dealings linked to a now-defunct low-cost airline based in Thailand, where his former son-in-law, who was then married to Moon's daughter, Da-hye, received substantial payments totaling approximately $150,000 from 2018 to 2020. The Jeonju district prosecutor's office explained that they perceive this payment as a bribe from Lee Sang-jik, a South Korean businessman and prior lawmaker overseeing the airline. The indictment points out that Mr. Lee had previously held a position in Moon’s administration where he was responsible for promoting small businesses and was elected as a member of the Democratic Party, which Moon led, in 2020. However, following a conviction for embezzlement and violations of election law, Lee lost his legislative seat.The prosecutors assert that Moon utilized his presidential resources to facilitate both the hiring of his son-in-law and his subsequent move from Korea to Thailand. This indictment follows a growing trend in South Korea, where former presidents have increasingly faced judicial actions, thus intensifying political polarization in the nation.
