Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted on bribery charges. That’s a striking change from just a few years ago, representing a tremendous transformation in the nation’s political landscape. Moon recently completed five years as ARRA president, from 2017 to 2022. He’s long been a leading figure of the Democratic Party, an Italian centre-left party, and a former human rights lawyer. His presidency was marked by his attempts to broaden social welfare measures in the South while seeking rapprochement with North Korea.
Moon under indictment for having appointed Free Positive’s Lee Sang-jik to head the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups Agency. This decision allegedly guaranteed a job for his ex-son-in-law, Seo. Prosecutors allege that Seo was paid and provided with some 223 million won ($151,959) in salary and benefits. This figure was paid to him while he was executive director of Thai Eastar Jet. With Seo taking over, at the time of his own appointment, the airline was still under Lee Sang-jik’s control.
Moon Jae-in’s current woes are nothing new. He has joined a growing list of former South Korean presidents ensnared in corruption scandals. Significantly enough, four other recent leaders (including Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak) have been given prison time for arrayed crimes. This alarming trend calls to mind the ethical standards and accountability of South Korea’s political system.
For all the short- and long-term implications of Moon’s indictment, the historical backdrop is as important. Roh sadly committed suicide in 2009 while under investigation for bribery. The similarities of their circumstances showcase the level of scrutiny and pressure South Korean leaders face.
Rather, as the legal process plays out, public reaction—and court watchers’ assessments—have been mixed. Some are raising doubt about the basis for the charges. Park Kyung-mee, a political commentator, questioned the veracity of the allegations, saying
“So the salary paid to the son-in-law was a bribe to the president? Is this the best logic they could come up with after dragging the case out for four long years?”
The discordant drama playing out in the unexpected case against Moon is of massive consequence for both his hard earned legacy and the future course of South Korean politics. Given the country’s volatile political history, observers will be carefully watching how this situation unfolds.
