Prosecutors are intensifying their investigation into allegations that former President Moon Jae-in’s ex-son-in-law secured a job with an airline in exchange for arranging a government position for the carrier’s founder. According to local media reports, prosecutors identified Moon as a suspect in the bribery case.
The Jeonju District Prosecutor’s Office searched the home of Moon’s daughter, Da-hye, on Sunday apparently to secure evidence of the former president’s possible involvement in the case. Previously, prosecutors seized the bank accounts of Moon and his wife to look into the financial transactions between the former presidential couple and their daughter and former son-in-law.
Earlier, prosecutors charged Cho Hyun-ock, a former presidential secretary for personnel affairs, with abuse of power and interrogated several former aides connected to the case. The investigation is centered on allegations that Cho improperly influenced the appointment of former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Lee S
ang-jik as head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME). Additionally, prosecutors questioned Lim Jong-seok, the former chief of staff to the president, and Cho Kook, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party and a senior aide to Moon at the time.
Prosecutors allege Moon’s son-in-law, surnamed Seo, obtained a job at Thai Eastar Jet, owned by Lee, in exchange for the owner being appointed as the KOSME head. Seo received some 220 million won ($164,000) from the company, which prosecutors suspect was an apparent kickback for the former president.
It is a national misfortune that former heads of state often become targets of prosecutorial investigations after leaving office. As the prosecution’s investigation appears to be increasingly focused on Moon, the ongoing probes are likely to have a significant impact on both the nation and the political sector, with political parties preparing for a high-stakes battle. DPK Rep. Youn Kun-young, who served as Moon’s senior secretary, described the prosecution’s actions a
s politically motivated and baseless. DPK spokesperson Hwang Jung-a criticized the prosecution for “writing a novel after failing to find evidence.”
Meanwhile, Jung Kwang-jae, spokesman for the ruling People Power Party (PPP), supported the investigation as an opportunity to uphold justice. “Many people have doubts about the allegations involving Da-hye,” he said at a press briefing.
With the prosecution now leading the investigation, it is crucial to thoroughly examine the case to uncover the truth. The inquiry should scrutinize whether the appointment of Lee as the KOSME head was handled appropriately and investigate how Seo, who lacked experience in the airline industry, was hired as a senior official at the company. Most importantly, the investigation must determine whether the former president exerted any influence over the process. Moon has maintained that he did not interfere with Seo’s employment and that there were no issues with Lee’s appointment. If this is the case, prosecutors should focus on v
erifying these claims.
The case first came to light when the PPP filed a lawsuit four years ago. After slow initial progress, the investigation gained momentum following the appointment of Lee Chang-soo, a close confidant of President Yoon Suk Yeol, as head of the Jeonju District Prosecutor’s Office. Given this development, prosecutors cannot avoid criticism for their improper handling of the case, which contributed to its growing controversy.
Prosecutors must demonstrate a serious sense of accountability by providing substantial evidence to support its bribery claims against the former president. Given the potential widespread impact on both the nation and the political landscape, it is crucial that prosecutors present credible grounds to thoroughly substantiate their allegations. Should they fail to do so, they risk completely damaging public trust.
Source: Yonhap News Agency