South Korean Ex-President Charged with Bribery
Moon Jae-in is now part of a growing list of former presidents facing legal issues during or after their time in office.
Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted on charges of bribery on Thursday.
This action by prosecutors places him among a number of former leaders of the East Asian nation who have encountered legal problems.
The case is linked to the appointment of his former son-in-law to a well-paid job at a Thai airline where he did not actually work during Moon’s presidency.
Prosecutors have been looking into whether the appointment of Lee was a favor in exchange for Moon’s former son-in-law getting a job at the airline in Thailand between 2018 and 2020, as outlined in the statement.
The prosecution claims that the funds received by the former son-in-law, 5.95 million baht ($177,506), were irregular and considered a bribe to Moon, who was then the president.
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Prosecutors noted that the son-in-law was not present at the company’s office in Thailand for extended periods and took on minimal responsibilities during the time he claimed to be working remotely from South Korea.
The prosecutors’ office stated that there was no evidence of Moon directly favoring Lee politically, but suggested that Lee, who was involved in Moon’s campaign, expected his support to be reciprocated.
Prosecutors referenced past bribery cases involving former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, both of whom were found guilty and imprisoned.
Moon, Lee, and their legal representatives have not yet issued a statement, but members of Moon’s Democratic Party criticized the indictment as a politically motivated move by supporters of his rival, Yoon Suk Yeol, within the prosecution service to discredit the former leader before the upcoming election.
South Korea is preparing for elections in June following Yoon’s removal over his attempt to impose martial law in December.
The former chief prosecutor faces charges of rebellion and insurrection, which he denies.
A Democratic Party committee has warned that they will hold the prosecution service accountable for the indictment.
Leading in the polls is the liberal-leaning Lee Jae-myung from Moon’s Democratic Party, whose campaign views the indictment as political retaliation by the prosecution and an attack on the previous administration.
Moon, a liberal attorney and civil rights activist, served as president from 2017 to 2022.
He is recognized for his efforts to reconcile with North Korea, including meetings with Kim Jong Un and facilitating diplomacy between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump’s first term.
Supporters credit Moon for progress in cooperation with North Korea and preventing major conflicts with Pyongyang.
However, critics accuse him of being too sympathetic to North Korea, ultimately enabling Kim to advance his nuclear program in defiance of international sanctions.
In recent decades, several South Korean leaders have faced legal issues or scandals, often towards the end of their terms or after leaving office.
In 2017, Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, was impeached and imprisoned for a corruption scandal. She was later pardoned by Moon after being tried, convicted, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Park’s conservative predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, was also arrested on various charges years after leaving office, while Moon’s friend and former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun tragically took his own life in 2009 amid a corruption investigation.
