Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been officially indicted on corruption charges tied to his son-in-law’s job. Prosecutors claim Moon helped secure a top position for his son-in-law at an airline, despite him having no relevant experience.
In a statement released today, the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office said Moon was charged with accepting bribes worth 217 million won (about USD 150,000). The alleged bribes were linked to his involvement in facilitating his son-in-law’s appointment at low-cost carrier Thai Eastar Jet.
Moon served as South Korea’s president from 2017 to 2022 and was known for pushing diplomatic engagement with North Korea. During his presidency, he played a key role in organizing historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to prosecutors, the airline that hired Moon’s son-in-law was effectively under the control of a former member of Moon’s political party. The appointment was allegedly made to gain favor with Moon, who was still in office at the time.
Authorities further stated that the son-in-law’s salary and benefits between 2018 and 2020 were not legitimate compensation for work, but instead were disguised bribes meant for Moon. The son-in-law has since divorced Moon’s daughter.
This indictment adds another layer to South Korea’s intensifying political crisis. The country is set to hold elections on June 3, following the removal of Moon’s successor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was stripped of the presidency for briefly imposing martial law.
Yoon is currently facing serious legal trouble of his own. He is on trial for insurrection charges linked to his December 3 martial law decree, which lasted just six hours before it was overturned by the opposition-controlled parliament. If convicted, Yoon could face life in prison or even the death penalty, although South Korea has not carried out any executions since 1997.
With two former presidents now under criminal investigation, South Korea’s political landscape is facing a period of intense scrutiny and public debate.
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