---
title: "South Korea prosecutors indict ex-president Moon Jae-in for bribery"
description: "South Korean prosecutors have indicted former president Moon Jae-in for alleged bribery, a prosecution office spokesperson said on Thursday, in a case related to the appointment of his former son-in-law at a Thai airline."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-24-south-korea-prosecutors-indict-ex-president-moon-jae-in-for-bribery/"
published: "2025-04-24T04:02:41"
updated: "2025-04-24T04:02:43"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 110
---

# South Korea prosecutors indict ex-president Moon Jae-in for bribery

> South Korean prosecutors have indicted former president Moon Jae-in for alleged bribery, a prosecution office spokesperson said on Thursday, in a case related to the appointment of his former son-in-law at a Thai airline.

By Reuters · Published 24 April 2025, 06:02 SAST · Updated 24 April 2025, 06:02 SAST

## Key points
- In a plot twist worthy of a K-drama, former President Moon finds himself in hot water over a bribery scandal involving a questionable job for his son-in-law, while ex-lawmaker Lee Sang-jik faces charges of his own for playing the puppet master in this political soap opera.
- Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in indicted for bribery amid ongoing corruption investigations.
- Ex-lawmaker Lee Sang-jik faces charges of bribery and breach of trust related to his government appointment.
- Allegations suggest Lee's appointment was linked to a job and salary for Moon's son-in-law at a Thai corporation.
- Prosecutors claim the salary constituted an irregular bribe to the former president; legal teams unavailable for comment.

## Content

Moon was indicted for bribery, while former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik was indicted for bribery and breach of trust, Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office said in a statement.

Prosecutors had been investigating whether Lee's appointment as the head of an SMEs and Startups Agency was in exchange for Moon's former son-in-law getting a job and receiving a salary at the Thai-based corporation that Lee controlled in 2018-2020, the statement said.

The prosecution alleged that the salary Moon's son-in-law received as an executive director was irregular and constituted a bribe to the then-president.

Moon, Lee and their legal representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies)