Moon Indictment Throws South Korea Into Political Turmoil
Investigators file charges against former South Korean President Moon
Masticate this: South Korean prosecutors have indicted the former leader Moon Jae-in on charges of bribery, making him yet another ex-president facing legal woes. The allegations revolve around his son-in-law's cushy gig as a no-show executive at a Thai airline.
Yowza! Moon's indictment marks him as South Korea's latest lame-duck leader embroiled in legal trouble, with a long list of former presidents facing trials or scandals post-office or at the tail-end of their terms.
Moon, ripe at 72, was indicted for bribery, while his sparring partner Lee Sang-jik was slapped with bribery and breach of trust charges, according to the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office's statement. Take a gander at the juicy details below.
The Nitty-Gritty
Prosecutors allege that Lee's appointment as the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency's head facilitated Moon's son-in-law's 2018-2020 employment at Thai Eastar Jet, a budget airline controlled by Lee. Oink, oink! The prosecution deems the 5.95 million baht ($177,633) received by Moon's son-in-law as an illicit bribe to the former president. Lucky ducky! Seo (Moon's son-in-law) reportedly had no aviation experience and barely set foot in the office, claiming a remote work arrangement from the Zen-land of South Korea.
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Crikey! The prosecution has been relentless, pinning Moon to previous bribery cases involving former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak. Suddenly, these two aren't looking so bad! Moon's party isn't exactly licking the boots of the prosecution, slamming the indictment as "politically motivated" and "an abuse of unchecked power."
Moon, a civil rights activist, held the presidential seat from 2017 to 2022 and garnered support for his North Korea diplomatic efforts. But critics argue he enabled Pyongyang's nuclear pursuits. A balancing act if there ever was one!
Yoo-Hoo, Yoon on Trial
But there's more stir-fry on the cooker! The former successor, Yoon Suk-yeol, was hauled away after an impeachment this month, following his brief martial law imposition last year. Once a conservative darling, he now stands trial for insurrection charges.
Voters' Choice
South Korea is all set for a snap election on June 3, with the race wide open. According to opinion polls, liberal-leaning Lee Jae-myung of Moon's Democratic Party is the front-runner in the race.
Stay tuned, folks! We've only just scratched the surface on South Korea's political meltdown. Gossipmongers, put your detective hats on, and let's start gabbing!
[1] Lee Sang-jik, Moon Jae-in, and Related Case Details - Reuters, April 23-24, 2025[2] South Korean Former President Moon Jae-in Indicted for Bribery - AP, April 23-24, 2025
- The indictment of Moon Jae-in, a former South Korean president, includes charges of bribery, following an investigation into his son-in-law's employment at a Thai airline.
- The Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office alleged that Lee Sang-jik, an activist who served as the head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, facilitated the job placement for Moon's son-in-law, in return for an illicit bribe.
- The prosecution has implicated Moon in prior bribery cases involving other former South Korean presidents, Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak.
- The South Korean general news has been abuzz with the indictment of ex-president Moon Jae-in, adding a fresh layer of complexity to the country's ongoing policy-and-legislation discussions and political landscape, along with the upcoming snap election on June 3.
