Latest news with #ThaiEastarJet
25-04-2025
- Politics
Former South Korean President Moon calls his bribery indictment 'unjust'
SEOUL, South Korea -- Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday called his indictment on bribery charges 'unjust,' accusing prosecutors of abusing their power in what he called a politically motivated investigation. Moon's comments came a day after prosecutors in the southern city of Jeonju announced his indictment over allegations that a budget airline gave his son-in-law a lucrative no-show job during his presidency. Meeting with National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik, Moon said he feels that prosecutors are 'pushing forward in a predetermined direction, no matter what' and that his case was an example of 'how politicized the prosecution has become and how prosecutorial power is being abused.' The former liberal leader was visiting the National Assembly for an event marking the seventh anniversary of his 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, held during a brief period of engagement between the rival Koreas. Moon's indictment adds to a long list of South Korean leaders who have faced criminal allegations or scandals near the end of their terms or after leaving office. On June 3 South Korea will hold a presidential election to select a successor to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was recently removed from office over an ill-conceived imposition of martial law in December. Yoon, who previously served as prosecutor general under the Moon administration before a high-profile fallout with the liberal leadership, is now facing a criminal trial on rebellion charges related to the decree. Moon's political allies at the main opposition Democratic Party have portrayed the indictment as a political vendetta, pushed by Yoon's supporters at the prosecution service to humiliate the former liberal leader ahead of the election. Prosecutors allege that Moon, who served as president from 2017-2022, received bribes totaling 217 million won ($151,000) from Lee Sang-jik, founder of the budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet. The bribes were allegedly in the form of financial support for Moon's son-in-law between 2018-2020. Prosecutors say the man, who reportedly divorced Moon's daughter in 2021, was hired by Lee's company in Thailand despite having no experience in the airline industry, and performed minimal duties while claiming to work remotely from South Korea. Prosecutors said they had not found evidence that Moon directly arranged political favors for Lee, but that Lee, who worked on Moon's campaign, likely expected his assistance to be repaid. Lee was later named the head of the state-funded Korea Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Agency and was nominated by Moon's party to run for parliament while Moon was in office.
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First Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
South Korea's ex president says his bribery indictment 'unjust' and 'politically motivated
Former president Moon, 72, is accused of accepting a bribe of $151,000 through his former son-in-law's employment at the airline, along with the salary and living expenses provided by it read more South Korean former President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony of the 103rd anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement Day in Seoul, South Korea, March 1, 2022. File Image / Reuters South Korea's former president Moon Jae-in claimed Friday that prosecutors abused their power, were politically motivated and 'unjust' to indict him on bribery known for his dovish approach to North Korea and peacemaking efforts, was indicted Thursday in a case linked his ex-son-in-law's employment at a Thai airline. The case adds another layer to the political turmoil engulfing South Korea, where snap elections had to be called following Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment for declaring martial law. Former president Moon, 72, is accused of accepting a bribe of $151,000 through his former son-in-law's employment at the airline, along with the salary and living expenses provided by it. The company, low-cost airline Thai Eastar Jet, was controlled by a former MP from Moon's party, who was allegedly seeking to gain favour with the then-president. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But during a televised meeting with the National Assembly Speaker on Friday, Moon said that 'not only is the indictment itself unjust, but I also felt that the prosecution was just pushing it through in a pre-determined direction, no matter what.' He called the case 'a very clear exmaple of the prosecution being politicised'. According to prosecutors, Moon's ex-son-in-law was appointed managing director of Thai Eastar Jet 'despite lacking any relevant experience or qualifications in the airline industry'. They added that he frequently took extended leave and handled only basic tasks, such as sending emails was was unemployed before joining the airline. Political revenge is a recurring theme in South Korea's landscape. The country's only two other surviving former presidents, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, have both been found guilty of corruption and spent time behind bars. Prosecutors are also currently investigating a stock price manipulation case allegedly involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, the wife of conservative ex-president Yoon. Moon, who while in office brokered talks between Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump during his first term, remains an influential figure in his liberal-leaning Democratic Party (DP). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lee Jae-myung, currently the DP's strongest presidential candidate, is leading the race by a double-digit margin over contenders from ex-president Yoon's scandal-tainted conservative People Power Party (PPP).
France 24
25-04-2025
- Politics
- France 24
S. Korea's former president claims his bribery indictment 'unjust'
Moon, known for his dovish approach to North Korea and peacemaking efforts, was indicted Thursday in a case linked his ex-son-in-law's employment at a Thai airline. The case adds another layer to the political turmoil engulfing South Korea, where snap elections had to be called following Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment for declaring martial law. Former president Moon, 72, is accused of accepting a bribe of $151,000 through his former son-in-law's employment at the airline, along with the salary and living expenses provided by it. The company, low-cost airline Thai Eastar Jet, was controlled by a former MP from Moon's party, who was allegedly seeking to gain favour with the then-president. But during a televised meeting with the National Assembly Speaker on Friday, Moon said that "not only is the indictment itself unjust, but I also felt that the prosecution was just pushing it through in a pre-determined direction, no matter what." He called the case "a very clear exmaple of the prosecution being politicised". According to prosecutors, Moon's ex-son-in-law was appointed managing director of Thai Eastar Jet "despite lacking any relevant experience or qualifications in the airline industry". They added that he frequently took extended leave and handled only basic tasks, such as sending emails was was unemployed before joining the airline. Political revenge is a recurring theme in South Korea's landscape. The country's only two other surviving former presidents, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, have both been found guilty of corruption and spent time behind bars. Prosecutors are also currently investigating a stock price manipulation case allegedly involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, the wife of conservative ex-president Yoon. Moon, who while in office brokered talks between Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump during his first term, remains an influential figure in his liberal-leaning Democratic Party (DP). Lee Jae-myung, currently the DP's strongest presidential candidate, is leading the race by a double-digit margin over contenders from ex-president Yoon's scandal-tainted conservative People Power Party (PPP).
Washington Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Former South Korean President Moon calls his bribery indictment 'unjust'
SEOUL, South Korea — Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday called his indictment on bribery charges 'unjust,' accusing prosecutors of abusing their power in what he called a politically motivated investigation. Moon's comments came a day after prosecutors in the southern city of Jeonju announced his indictment over allegations that a budget airline gave his son-in-law a lucrative no-show job during his presidency. Meeting with National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik, Moon said he feels that prosecutors are 'pushing forward in a predetermined direction, no matter what' and that his case was an example of 'how politicized the prosecution has become and how prosecutorial power is being abused.' The former liberal leader was visiting the National Assembly for an event marking the seventh anniversary of his 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, held during a brief period of engagement between the rival Koreas. Moon's indictment adds to a long list of South Korean leaders who have faced criminal allegations or scandals near the end of their terms or after leaving office. On June 3 South Korea will hold a presidential election to select a successor to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was recently removed from office over an ill-conceived imposition of martial law in December. Yoon, who previously served as prosecutor general under the Moon administration before a high-profile fallout with the liberal leadership, is now facing a criminal trial on rebellion charges related to the decree. Moon's political allies at the main opposition Democratic Party have portrayed the indictment as a political vendetta, pushed by Yoon's supporters at the prosecution service to humiliate the former liberal leader ahead of the election. Prosecutors allege that Moon, who served as president from 2017-2022, received bribes totaling 217 million won ($151,000) from Lee Sang-jik, founder of the budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet. The bribes were allegedly in the form of financial support for Moon's son-in-law between 2018-2020. Prosecutors say the man, who reportedly divorced Moon's daughter in 2021, was hired by Lee's company in Thailand despite having no experience in the airline industry, and performed minimal duties while claiming to work remotely from South Korea. Prosecutors said they had not found evidence that Moon directly arranged political favors for Lee, but that Lee, who worked on Moon's campaign, likely expected his assistance to be repaid. Lee was later named the head of the state-funded Korea Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Agency and was nominated by Moon's party to run for parliament while Moon was in office.
Hans India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
South Korea: Ex-President Moon indicted over alleged bribery
Jeonju (South Korea): South Korean prosecutors said on Thursday that they have indicted former President Moon Jae-in over charges of bribery in connection with allegations of facilitating the employment of his former son-in-law at an airline. Moon, who served as President from 2017 to 2022, was indicted for corruption, while former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, who established the budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet, was indicted for bribery and breach of trust. Moon and his daughter, Da-hye, were accused of allegedly receiving bribes in the form of salary and other payments for Da-hye's ex-husband, surnamed Seo, by the airline. Seo was appointed Executive Director at the airline in 2018 after Lee, who founded the airline, was appointed head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. Prosecutors suspect that Lee's appointment was made in exchange for hiring Seo at the airline, particularly given Seo's lack of experience in the airline industry at the time. Moon is alleged to have stopped providing financial support to his daughter's family after Seo's employment, and prosecutors consider the approximately 217 million won ($151,125) in salary and other compensation paid by the airline to Seo and Da-hye as a bribe to the former President. The indictment against Moon comes as the nation is gearing up for the June 3 presidential election after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted early this month over his failed martial law bid, Yonhap news agency reported. Moon's legal team denounced the indictment as a politically motivated move, calling it an "unlawful indictment based on fabricated claims". They argued that Moon was preparing a written response to prosecutors and had notified them it would be submitted by the end of April. Despite this, prosecutors moved forward without verifying key facts or awaiting the response, the legal team said. The Democratic Party (DP), which fielded Moon as its candidate in the 2017 presidential election, also condemned the indictment. DP spokesperson Park Kyung-mee called the move "a political maneuver" aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the former president and the party. Former DP leader Lee Jae-myung echoed the criticism, describing the indictment as "an act of political persecution against the previous administration."
