Seoul: Former President Moon Jae-in has been indicted without detention on charges of bribery, making him the sixth former head of state in South Korea to face trial on criminal charges. Prosecutors allege that a lucrative job position offered to Moon's former son-in-law at a foreign subsidiary of Eastar Jet was intended as a bribe for the president himself.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the indictment outlines that Moon's former son-in-law, identified by the surname Seo, lacked experience in the airline industry but was appointed as an executive director at Thai Eastar Jet in August 2018. This subsidiary of the Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet is based in Thailand. During his tenure, Seo reportedly received over 200 million won, equivalent to $145,000, in salary and living expenses, all while Moon held office.
Lee Sang-jik, a former lawmaker and founder of Eastar Jet, was also indicted without detention on charges of bribery and breach of trust. Prosecutors argue that the job offer to Seo was an illicit favor linked to Moon's presidential authority. They reference past Supreme Court rulings that allowed broad interpretations of presidential responsibility, citing cases involving former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.
The controversy over Seo's hiring emerged in 2019, when then-opposition lawmaker Kwak Sang-do raised the issue during a parliamentary session. Kwak highlighted Lee's earlier appointment as chairman of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency in March 2018 as evidence of political favoritism. A civic group subsequently filed a formal complaint in December 2021, but the investigation has only recently led to an indictment, raising questions about the pace and complexity of the probe.
Although there is no evidence that Moon personally received any money, prosecutors believe the case demands accountability under the principle of presidential responsibility. The indictment underscores South Korea's ongoing issues with influence-peddling among presidential relatives and close aides, a pattern seen in every administration since the 1980s.
In response to these recurring scandals, the Park Geun-hye administration established the Office of the Inspector General to oversee presidential relatives and aides. However, the position has remained vacant since the Moon administration, continuing through the Yoon Suk Yeol government, leaving it unfilled for nearly nine years.
As the June presidential election approaches, leading candidates are being urged to clarify their plans to prevent corruption within their families and inner circles. South Korea's strong tradition of familial loyalty, combined with the temptations of high office, has repeatedly created vulnerabilities in the Blue House.
Following the indictment, Moon reportedly described the charges as "absurd and outrageous." The Democratic Party criticized the indictment as political retaliation and baseless. Conversely, the ruling People Power Party stated that if Moon abused his power to grant special favors, "such an act would be an unpardonable crime."
Political leaders are encouraged to refrain from turning this case into another partisan confrontation. Instead, they should await the court's decision, while the judiciary ensures that the trial proceeds fairly and transparently, based solely on evidence and the law.