Camilla Jessen
Moon Jae-in joins a growing list of South Korean presidents to face legal trouble after office.
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Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been formally indicted on bribery charges, making him the latest in a string of the country’s ex-leaders to face legal scrutiny after leaving office.
According to Euronews, prosecutors allege Moon accepted illicit favors worth 217 million won (€133,239) through a no-show job arranged for his son-in-law during his presidency. The alleged payments came from Lee Sang-jik, founder of Thai budget carrier Eastar Jet and a former political ally, who was also indicted for bribery and breach of trust.
According to the indictment, Moon’s son-in-law was given a director-level position at Lee’s Thailand-based airline between 2018 and 2020, despite having no relevant experience. The role reportedly required little work and was carried out remotely from South Korea, while still receiving full salary, housing, and other benefits.
Lee later received appointments to lead a state-backed agency and was nominated to parliament by Moon’s party, though prosecutors said they found no direct evidence linking Moon to those decisions.
The indictment comes just weeks ahead of South Korea’s June 3 presidential election, adding to political tensions following the impeachment of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who now faces trial for allegedly attempting to impose martial law.
Moon’s Democratic Party allies condemned the charges as politically motivated, accusing prosecutors aligned with Yoon of using the legal system to damage the liberal camp ahead of the vote.
Despite the controversy, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung continues to lead in the polls, even as he faces a separate trial for alleged corruption.
Moon, who served as president from 2017 to 2022, is known for championing engagement with North Korea, meeting Kim Jong Un three times and helping facilitate nuclear talks between Pyongyang and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
His supporters credit him with reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, while critics argue his outreach to the North merely allowed Kim’s regime time to expand its nuclear arsenal under the cover of diplomacy.