Moon's Bribery Charge: A New Chapter in South Korea's Political Turmoil
- AP and Reuters, SEOUL*
South Korean authorities file charges against former President Moon.
In a striking turn of events, former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted for bribery, joining the ranks of several of his predecessors who have faced legal woe.
Yesterday, Moon, 72, became the latest high-profile leader to find himself in court, following investigations into his appointment of a close ally, Lee Sang-jik, as head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. Prosecutors allege that the appointment was a quid pro quo for Moon Jae-in's Former Son-in-Law's lucrative no-show position at a Thai airline controlled by Lee.
According to the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office, Moon Jae-in was charged with bribery, while Lee Sang-jik was also charged with bribery and breach of trust. The charges rest on the claim that Moon's former son-in-law received 5.95 million baht ($177,633) in compensation, an amount prosecutors claim was bribes paid to then-President Moon.
Reports suggest that the son-in-law held no relevant experience within the airline industry, yet was commissioned as a director with no substantive responsibilities. His brief stints at the Thai airline's office were sporadic, and his claim of remote work from South Korea is under scrutiny.
The prosecution's case draws clear parallels to the high-profile bribery cases that resulted in the convictions and imprisonment of former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak.
Moon's political party has vehemently denounced the indictment, accusing prosecutors of wielding unchecked power and playing political games. Moon, a former lawyer and civil rights activist, held office from 2017 to 2022.
Meanwhile, Moon's successor, Yoon Suk-yeol, has faced impeachment and criminal charges, following a controversial imposition of martial law. Yoon, a conservative leader, is currently on trial for insurrection.
South Korea is in the midst of a snap election, scheduled for June 3, to select a new leader. The front-runner, Lee Jae-myung, a liberal candidate from Moon's Democratic Party, continues to lead in opinion polls.
[1] Kwon, M. (2025, April 24). South Korea's Former President Moon Jae-in Indicted on Bribery Charges. The New York Times.[2] Lee, Y. (2025, April 24). Moon Jae-in indicted for bribery in corruption scandal connected to son-in-law's job at Thai airline. CNN.
- The indictment of Moon Jae-in for bribery adds another chapter to South Korea's ongoing political turmoil, further complicating the country's policy-and-legislation and politics landscape.
- Capable of paralleling high-profile bribery cases that led to the conviction and imprisonment of former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, the current indictment of Moon Jae-in raises questions about the level of corruption within South Korea's crime-and-justice system.
- As the case against Moon Jae-in unfolds, kleptocracy and general-news coverage will likely focus on the roles of SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and startups, as well as their interactions with key political figures, in the nation's war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation domain.
- Activists across the country are urging for a comprehensive review of the jurisdiction and power yielded by the prosecution in corruption cases, citing concerns about potential misuse of power and political bias.
- The recent indictment of Moon Jae-in and the ongoing trial of Yoon Suk-yeol are creating a climate of uncertainty in South Korea, causing widespread concern among the citizens and challenging the credibility of its leadership, both past and present.
