Bribery charges filed against Ex-South Korean President Moon Jae-in in escalating political crackdown

DAVAO CITY (April 24) –— Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted on bribery charges, becoming the latest in a string of former leaders entangled in legal battles after leaving office.

Moon, who served as president from 2017 to 2022 under the liberal Democratic Party, is accused of receiving illicit favors through his former son-in-law’s appointment to a top airline post, despite the latter’s lack of qualifications.

According to prosecutors, Moon’s son-in-law, identified only by his surname Seo, was appointed executive director of Thai Eastar Jet, a subsidiary of budget carrier Eastar Jet, in 2018. His hiring allegedly came as part of a quid pro quo arrangement in which Lee Sang-jik, the airline’s founder and a former lawmaker, was named head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, a state-funded body.

Prosecutors say Seo, who had no background in aviation, received 217 million won (approximately $150,000) in salary and housing benefits between 2018 and 2020, despite reportedly neglecting his duties and frequently being absent from work. The payment is being treated as an indirect bribe to Moon.

The residence of Moon’s daughter, Moon Da-hye, was raided in September 2023 during the investigation.

Moon is best remembered for his historic efforts to ease tensions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but his post-presidency legacy is now clouded by controversy. His Democratic Party has denounced the indictment as a “politically motivated attack”, alleging that it is part of a campaign to discredit Moon and his administration.

The indictment comes amid a widening crackdown on officials from the Moon era. Earlier this month, his former national security advisor and defense minister were also indicted for allegedly leaking classified intelligence.

This legal storm follows a dramatic collapse in the country’s political leadership. Just weeks earlier, former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office for declaring martial law without approval, and is now facing criminal charges of his own.

Moon now joins a long line of South Korean presidents whose tenures have ended in scandal, imprisonment, or worse — a grim tradition in a nation where political turnover often triggers prosecutorial payback. Previous leaders have faced everything from corruption charges and assassination to suicide, feeding criticism that South Korea’s prosecution service is politicized and used as a tool for revenge when power shifts.

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of the conservative People Power Party leads the current government.

The deepening political divide and high-profile prosecutions are intensifying tensions ahead of upcoming elections, with observers warning of a climate of retribution and instability that could overshadow governance and reform.