Prosecution Opens Case Against Moon Dahye for Bribery... Investigating Possible Collusion with Moon

Prosecution Considers Booking Former Son-in-law Seo as a Suspect

The prosecution has revealed that Moon Dahye, the daughter of former President Moon Jae-in, has been booked on charges of bribery.

The Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office stated on the 25th, "Last year, a civic group submitted a complaint regarding bribery involving Moon Dahye to the Jongno Police Station in Seoul," and added, "We received the case transfer from the police at the end of last month."

The complaint reportedly includes allegations that Moon Dahye directly benefited economically during her overseas migration process in connection with preferential employment suspicions involving Seo, the former son-in-law of President Moon, who was an executive at an airline, thereby establishing a conspiracy to commit bribery.

The prosecution is also conducting a legal review regarding booking Seo as a suspect on bribery charges.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Bae Sang-yoon) is investigating the circumstances under which Seo, who has no experience in the airline industry, was employed as an executive director at Thai Star Jet, a Thai corporation owned by Lee Sang-jik, the founder of Eastar Jet and former member of the Democratic Party of Korea, after Lee was appointed as the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation (SBC) in March 2018. The prosecution suspects a connection between Seo's appointment as an executive at Thai Star Jet and Lee's appointment as SBC chairman.

The prosecution also views the 223 million KRW paid to Seo by Thai Star Jet, including salary and relocation expenses, as de facto bribes, considering that former President Moon ceased economic support to his daughter Dahye following Seo's employment.

During the investigation, the prosecution booked former President Moon on bribery charges and Lee Sang-jik and others on bribery offering charges, summoning key figures from the Blue House during the Moon Jae-in administration.

So far, among the suspects in this case, only former President Moon and recently booked Moon Dahye have not been questioned, leading to speculation that the prosecution and defense will coordinate schedules for their investigations.