Former President Moon Jae-in of South Korea was indicted on a bribery charge on Thursday, adding him to the list of ex-leaders in the country facing criminal trials. This pattern of subjecting former leaders to investigations has become common in South Korea. The corruption charge against Mr. Moon is related to the employment of his former son-in-law at a now-defunct budget airline in Thailand. Prosecutors allege that the son-in-law received bribes in the form of salary and housing allowances from the airline while married to Mr. Moon’s daughter.
The indictment accuses a South Korean businessman and former lawmaker, Lee Sang-jik, of paying the money to Mr. Moon through the employment of his son-in-law at the airline. Under Mr. Moon’s presidency, Mr. Lee served in a government agency promoting small businesses and was later elected as a lawmaker affiliated with Mr. Moon’s Democratic Party. Prosecutors claim that Mr. Moon used his presidential staff to facilitate the son-in-law’s employment and relocation to Thailand. Mr. Lee, who was already serving prison time for previous corruption charges, was also indicted on an additional bribery charge.
Mr. Moon’s case is part of a trend in South Korea where former presidents or their relatives often face investigations before or after leaving office. Past presidents like Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye have been embroiled in corruption scandals, with some ending up in prison. Even the most recent former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office, is facing trial on charges related to sending military troops into the National Assembly during his brief imposition of martial law. These investigations have deepened political polarization in the country.
Under the conservative administration of Mr. Yoon, Mr. Moon and his aides have faced multiple criminal investigations. Earlier this year, four former national security aides to Mr. Moon were found guilty of abusing their power, although their prison terms were suspended due to perceived political motivations by the Yoon administration. Despite being summoned for questioning, Mr. Moon has refused to appear, leading to further tensions between political factions in South Korea.
Mr. Moon is known for his efforts to foster political reconciliation with North Korea, including meetings with Kim Jong-un and mediating a summit between Kim and Donald Trump in 2018. While he faced criticism for failing to address rising housing prices, he was praised for his handling of the pandemic in South Korea. Since leaving office, Mr. Moon has relocated to a new residence and has been active on social media, criticizing the policies of the current administration, particularly following the failed attempt to impose martial law. The bribery charges against Mr. Moon reflect a larger issue of corruption and political infighting that has plagued South Korea’s leadership in recent years.
