In brief
Former President Moon Jae-in of South Korea was indicted on a bribery charge on Thursday, becoming the latest ex-leader to face criminal action in a country where this pattern has been becoming increasingly common. The indictment stems from allegations related to the employment of his former son-in-law at a now-defunct small budget airline in Thailand.
Mr. Moon, who completed his five-year term and left office in 2022, is accused of facilitating the employment and relocation of his son-in-law, Da-hye’s then-husband, to Thailand through the utilization of his presidential staff. Reports indicate that this former son-in-law received approximately 217 million won (around $150,000) in salary and housing allowances from the airline between the years 2018 and 2020.The allegations further detail that the sum received was considered a bribe paid to Mr. Moon by Lee Sang-jik, a businessman and former lawmaker involved with the airline. Prosecutors assert that Lee appointed Moon’s son-in-law to his position despite him lacking the qualifications necessary for the job, as the favor was meant for the Moon family.During Moon’s presidency, Lee held a critical role as the head of a government agency dedicated to supporting small businesses and garnered a parliamentary seat affiliated with the Democratic Party in 2020. However, he lost his seat following his arrest and conviction for embezzlement and election-law violations.The case continues to contribute to the growing political polarization in South Korea, where the criminal indictments of former presidents have become increasingly frequent, reflecting the tumultuous nature of the country’s political landscape.
