Grandson of Chun Doo Hwan apologizes to victims of May 18 Gwangju Uprising

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Grandson of Chun Doo Hwan apologizes to victims of May 18 Gwangju Uprising

Chun Woo-won, right, grandson of the late military dictator and former President Chun Doo Hwan, apologizes to the victims and their surviving families of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising on Friday in Gwangju. [YONHAP]

Chun Woo-won, right, grandson of the late military dictator and former President Chun Doo Hwan, apologizes to the victims and their surviving families of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising on Friday in Gwangju. [YONHAP]

Chun Woo-won, grandson of the late military dictator and former President Chun Doo Hwan, apologized to the victims of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising and their surviving families on Friday, saying that his grandfather was a “sinner.”
 
Chun met with members of the victims' group in Gwangju two days after he was released by local police for alleged drug abuse.
 
At least 167 people died and thousands of others were injured in the 1980 pro-democracy movement against the Chun Doo Hwan regime, mostly civilian protestors. Chun Doo Hwan died in 2021 at the age of 90, never issuing an apology.
 
During the Friday meeting with the victims, the grandson blamed his grandfather for backpedaling on democracy, saying he was sorry for Gwangju citizens for having to be in pain to fight against the military dictatorship.
 
“My entire family is an ugly sinner, including myself,” he said. “It’s a sin that I’m even here, but I am grateful that the citizens of Gwangju accepted [my presence] with a warm heart.”
 
In an interview with local radio CBS, Cho Jin-tae, executive director of the victims’ group, later said his heart felt “heavy and uneasy” seeing the grandson apologize.
 
“Chun Doo Hwan died without a single word of apology, but his sins will never disappear or be covered up,” said Cho, adding that the sins of historical criminals will “ultimately be paid for by their descendants.”
 
The 27-year-old grandson first came to the media limelight earlier this month when he posted photos and videos accusing his family of multiple crimes, at one point calling his grandfather a “killer.”
 
He was hospitalized two weeks ago in New York after passing out while live-streaming himself using drugs on YouTube. He arrived at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday to turn himself in to Korean authorities.
 
Police arrested him but released him the next day, saying they would investigate his drug use without detaining him. 

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]
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