Former South Korean president Moon Jae-in indicted for corruption

South Korea's former president Moon Jae-in was indicted on corruption charges related to the employment of his son-in-law at Thai airline, prosecutors said Thursday. The airline was allegedly controlled by a former ruling party lawmaker.

The Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office said Moon was charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (Bribery).

Moon was "indicted for corruption for receiving 217 million won (USD 150,000) in connection with facilitating the employment of his son-in-law [surnamed Seo] at an airline," the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office was quoted by AFP as saying in a statement.

Seo worked as an executive at Thai Eastar Jet from August 2018 to April 2020, Korean media Chosun Daily reported.

Ivestigators said the airline was effectively controlled by former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-jik.

While Moon was indicted for bribery, former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik was indicted for bribery and breach of trust, the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office said in a statement.

What is being probed?

According to local media, the investigation began in December 2021 following a complaint by a civic group.

Prosecutors reportedly said Seo, who previously worked in the gaming industry and had no aviation experience, was given the executive post as a political favor in exchange for Lee’s appointment as head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

According to Chosun Daily, authorities said the airline had no need to hire Seo but still appointed him to a senior role and paid for his relocation.

They alleged Moon and his daughter were directly involved in receiving the financial benefits and that Moon helped facilitate Seo’s hiring and move to Thailand through the presidential office’s special inspection team.

According to Japan Times, prosecutors had been investigating whether Lee's appointment as the head of an SMEs and Startups Agency was in exchange for Moon's former son-in-law getting a job and receiving a salary at the Thai-based corporation that Lee controlled in 2018-2020.

The prosecution reportedly alleged that the salary Moon's son-in-law received as an executive director was irregular and constituted a bribe to the then-president.

Seo and Moon’s daughter, Da-hye, were not indicted but received suspended indictments, prosecutors said.

Moon, Lee and their legal representatives have not commented yet.