Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in Indicted on Bribery Charges

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been formally indicted on bribery charges, according to a statement released by prosecutors on Thursday.

Moon, who served as president from 2017 to 2022 under the center-left Democratic Party, is accused of using his political power to arrange a quid pro quo appointment. Prosecutors at the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office allege that Moon appointed former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik as head of the government-funded SMEs and Startups Agency in exchange for the employment of Moon’s then son-in-law at a Thailand-based airline.

The case centers on Thai Eastar Jet, an airline that was under the control of Lee Sang-jik at the time of the alleged incident. According to prosecutors, Moon’s former son-in-law—identified by the surname Seo—was appointed as executive director at Eastar Jet, allegedly as part of a deal. Prosecutors claim that the salary and benefits Seo received during his tenure at the airline, totaling approximately 223 million won (about $151,959), constitute a bribe given to Moon in return for the political appointment of Lee.

The Democratic Party has vehemently rejected the indictment, labeling it as politically charged and a misuse of judicial authority. Party spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee criticized the basis of the charges, questioning the rationale behind considering salary payments to the president’s son-in-law as evidence of bribery. “So the salary paid to the son-in-law was a bribe to the president? Is this the best logic they could come up with after dragging the case out for four long years?” Park said in a statement.

Moon Jae-in now joins a long list of former South Korean presidents who have encountered legal troubles after leaving office. South Korea has a history of its former leaders facing prosecution and conviction. Moon’s immediate predecessors, Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, both served prison terms on corruption-related charges. His political mentor, former President Roh Moo-hyun, died by suicide in 2009 while being investigated in a similar bribery case, a tragedy that left a significant impact on Moon and his supporters.

Moon, a former human rights lawyer, was known during his presidency for advocating social welfare reforms and seeking peaceful engagement with North Korea. His administration was marked by efforts to promote inter-Korean dialogue and improve the country's social safety net.

The timing of Moon’s indictment is especially notable as South Korea prepares for a new presidential election, scheduled for June 3. The election follows the impeachment and removal of Moon’s successor, Yoon Suk-yeol, who is currently on trial for insurrection over his declaration of martial law last year. Earlier this month, the Constitutional Court of Korea upheld Yoon’s impeachment, paving the way for a new administration.

Moon’s indictment has already sparked political debate across the country and is expected to influence the tone of the upcoming election campaign. Critics argue that the move could deepen political divisions and fuel further controversy over the role of the judiciary in South Korean politics.