The Prosecution of South Korea announced on Thursday the indictment of former South Korean President Moon Jae-in on bribery charges, related to allegations of facilitating employment at an airline for his former son-in-law. Along with him, the founder of Thai Eastar Jet, former legislator Lee Samg-jik, has been indicted for bribery and breach of trust.
Moon Jae-in and his daughter, Moon Da-hye, allegedly received bribes in the form of salaries and other payments for Seo, Da-hye's ex-husband. He was appointed as CEO of the low-cost airline in 2018, following the appointment of founder Lee as director of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. Prosecutors suggest that the appointment could be influenced by Seo's hiring at Thai Eastar Jet, considering his lack of previous experience in the aviation sector.
The indictment comes at a time of political tension in South Korea, following the recent impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The controversy is related to the implementation of martial law on December 3. In early April, the South Korean Constitutional Court confirmed the impeachment, paving the way for the upcoming electoral process.
Moon's defense argues that he stopped providing financial support to his daughter's family. However, the Prosecution clarifies that the alleged bribe amounts to approximately 223 million won (151,959 US dollars - 137,498.01 euros), linked to compensations paid by the airline.