Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been formally charged with corruption, tied to allegations surrounding the employment of his son-in-law at a budget airline.
Prosecutors from the Jeonju District Office announced Thursday that Moon is accused of benefiting from a scheme that saw his son-in-law appointed to a senior position at Thai Eastar Jet, a move allegedly aimed at currying political favour.
Authorities claim Moon received approximately 217 million won (roughly USD 150,000) in connection to the hiring.
The son-in-law, who prosecutors say lacked both the experience and qualifications necessary for the aviation industry, was named managing director and allegedly failed to perform his duties adequately.
Investigators assert that the salary and perks he earned from 2018 to 2020 were not legitimate wages, but rather bribes intended for Moon himself.
They also allege the airline’s decision was influenced by a former lawmaker from Moon’s Democratic Party, suggesting the appointment was politically motivated.
The indictment comes amid heightened political tension in South Korea, just weeks ahead of the country’s June 3 elections.
The political landscape has already been shaken by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing trial on insurrection charges after briefly declaring martial law late last year.
Yoon could face a life sentence or even capital punishment, though South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Moon, who served as president from 2017 to 2022, is remembered for his liberal agenda and high-profile diplomacy with North Korea.
He played a pivotal role in brokering meetings between North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
His indictment adds to a growing list of South Korean leaders entangled in legal scandals.
Former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye both served prison time for corruption, while Roh Moo-hyun, Moon’s mentor and former boss, took his own life in 2009 during an investigation involving his family.
In response to the charges, the Democratic Party has condemned the move as a political attack.
Party spokesperson Park Kyung-mee called the case a “fabricated attempt to disgrace a former president,” questioning the logic of calling the son-in-law’s salary a bribe.
She accused prosecutors of dragging out the case for years in an abuse of power.
