Most of Eight Presidents Faced Unfortunate Ends
"Regretful to See Such Misfortune"
Former Prime Minister Lee Nakyon stated that he believes former President Moon Jaein to be innocent after Moon was indicted on bribery charges. Former President Moon had been under investigation by prosecutors in connection with suspicions of preferential hiring of his former son-in-law, Mr. Seo, at Thai Eastar Jet.
On April 24, during a live YouTube broadcast on Newspim TV, Lee Nakyon expressed his regret and made these remarks.
Lee said, "I believe he is innocent, but it feels as though a series of old incidents are being addressed one by one. Since the current Constitution was enacted, out of eight presidents, four have been imprisoned, and two had sons who were imprisoned."
He continued, "Another former president took his own life during a prosecution investigation. The only president who did not experience such misfortune was Moon Jaein, so I feel very sorry to see this happening now."
Former President Moon Jaein has been indicted without detention by the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery). According to the indictment, Moon, together with his daughter Da-hye and Mr. Seo, allegedly conspired to have Mr. Seo appointed as an executive at Thai Eastar Jet, an overseas affiliate of Eastar Jet, which was effectively owned by former lawmaker Lee Sangjik, the founder of Eastar Jet.
Mr. Seo received approximately 150 million won (4.16 million baht) in salary and 65 million won (1.78 million baht) as housing expenses from August 2018 to March 2020 while working at Thai Eastar Jet. Prosecutors determined that, since Moon stopped providing living expenses to Da-hye and her husband after Mr. Seo's employment, Moon personally benefited economically by the same amount.
Prosecutors also stated that, during the investigation, they confirmed that the Blue House's Office of Civil Affairs, Special Inspection Team, and Presidential Security Service were deeply involved in Da-hye and Mr. Seo's overseas relocation.
A prosecution official said, "The core of this case is that the president exercised broad authority to secure special privileges for his daughter's family to emigrate overseas through an airline controlled by former lawmaker and businessman Lee Sangjik." The official added, "Through a lawful investigation, we exercised restraint in prosecution by indicting only the president, who was a public official, and the bribe provider."
The official continued, "Although the president's daughter and former son-in-law were accomplices in the crime, we decided to suspend their indictment in consideration of the fact that the purpose of exercising the state's penal power could be achieved by indicting the president and the bribe provider, as well as their family relationship."
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