Fri Apr 25 15:11:17 UTC 2025: ## Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in Indicted on Bribery Charges
**Seoul, South Korea –** Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted on bribery charges, claiming the prosecution is politically motivated. The indictment, announced Thursday, alleges that Moon received approximately $151,000 in bribes from the founder of a budget airline, Lee Sang-jik, in exchange for a lucrative no-show job given to Moon’s son-in-law. Prosecutors say while there’s no evidence Moon directly arranged favors for Lee, Lee’s campaign work for Moon likely fueled the expectation of reciprocal benefits. Lee subsequently received several key positions within the government.
Moon, who served from 2017 to 2022, denounced the charges as unjust and an abuse of prosecutorial power, asserting the investigation was predetermined. His comments came during a visit to the National Assembly to commemorate the seventh anniversary of his 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
This indictment adds to a string of South Korean leaders facing criminal allegations after leaving office. The timing is particularly sensitive, coinciding with the upcoming June 3rd presidential election. Moon’s allies within the main opposition Democratic Party have framed the indictment as a political attack orchestrated by supporters of recently removed President Yoon Suk Yeol, who himself faces a rebellion trial. Yoon, a former prosecutor general under Moon, was ousted for an ill-conceived attempt to impose martial law. The political climate is highly charged, with the opposition portraying the prosecution as a vendetta against Moon.
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