Former South Korea president Moon Jae-in indicted for corruption

South Korea’s prosecutors say they have indicted former president Moon Jae-in on corruption charges related to the employment of his son-in-law at an airline.

Moon was “indicted for corruption for receiving 217 million won (USD 150,000) in connection with facilitating the employment of his son-in-law at an airline”, the Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office says in a statement.

The case adds to the political drama gripping South Korea, which is facing elections on June 3 after Yoon Suk Yeol was stripped of his presidency for imposing martial law briefly.

Moon, who served as president from 2017 to 2022, was known for pursuing engagement with North Korea, including brokering talks between Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump during his first term.

According to prosecutors, Moon’s son-in-law was appointed managing director by low-cost airline Thai Eastar Jet, “despite lacking any relevant experience or qualifications in the airline industry.”

The airline, which was effectively controlled by a former MP from Moon’s party, had given Moon’s son-in-law the job in a bid to win favours from the then president, prosecutors say.

With Moon’s indictment, two former presidents of South Korea are concurrently in the cross-hairs of justice.

Disgraced ex-president Yoon is currently facing trial on insurrection charges over his December 3 martial law decree, which lasted only around six hours as it was voted down by opposition MPs.