The prosecution investigating former President Moon Jae-in's bribery allegations has identified his daughter, Dahye, and his former son-in-law, Seo (45), as suspects facing the same charges.
According to legal circles on the 11th, the Jeonju District Prosecutor's Office Criminal Division 3 (Director General Bae Sang-yun) recently charged Seo without detention on allegations of bribery.
Previously, the prosecution had converted Dahye, who was a witness, into a suspect on bribery and taxes violation charges, following a report from a civic group.
As a result, the number of suspects in the case has increased to six, including former President Moon, Dahye, Seo, former lawmaker Lee Sang-jik (bribery), Park Seok-ho, CEO of Thai East Jet (business breach of trust), and Cho Hyun-ok, former chief of personnel at the Blue House, who was indicted last December (obstruction of duties).
The prosecution is investigating how former lawmaker Lee, the founder of Eastar Jet, employed Seo as an executive at Thai East Jet, a corporation he actually owns, after Lee took the position of chairperson of the Korea Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Agency (KOSME) in March 2018.
The prosecution views the background of Seo, who previously worked at a game company and had no practical experience in the aviation industry, joining Thai East Jet as an executive as suspicious and is focusing on whether there was a quid pro quo between the KOSME chairperson position and the employment process for the airline.
The prosecution also considers the 223 million won payments, including salaries and moving expenses, received by Seo from Thai East Jet as a bribe, since former President Moon reportedly stopped providing financial support to his daughter, Dahye, due to Seo's employment.
A prosecution official noted, 'At present, we are not considering charging First Lady Kim Jung-sook,' adding, 'As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot disclose specific details.'