Former President Chun Doo Hwan's grandson calls him 'sinner'

Social Affairs

Published: 31 Mar. 2023, 17:57 Updated: 14 Apr. 2023, 17:04

Former President Chun Doo Hwan's grandson calls him 'sinner'

Chun Woo-won, grandson of the late military dictator and former President Chun Doo Hwan, wipes a gravestone belonging to a victim of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising with his coat on Friday at the May 18th National Cemetery 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 on Friday, saying that his grandfather was a “sinner.”

The remarks came as the younger Chun met with members of a group representing the pro-democracy victims and their surviving families in Gwangju, two days after he was released by local police for alleged drug abuse.

Police earlier this week said they would investigate him without physical detention.

At least 167 people were killed and thousands of others were injured in the historic uprising, when large crowds of protesters took to the streets in the southwestern city of Gwangju from May 18 to 27, 1980, to fight against the military dictatorship of Chun Doo Hwan, who seized power through a coup and ruled the country with an iron fist.

Chun Doo Hwan’s regime mobilized military soldiers, tanks and helicopters to quell the protests, opening fire on civilian protestors.

Till the day Chun Doo Hwan died in 2021 at the age of 90, he never apologized for the massacre.

Forty-three years later, Chun Doo Hwan’s grandson, who is now 27, stood in front of the victims and their relatives at the May 18 Memorial Foundation in Gwangju, surrounded by an army of news cameras, to apologize on behalf of his family.

“My grandfather was the main culprit behind the Gwangju Uprising massacre,” said the grandson, adding that Chun Doo Hwan was a grave “sinner.”

“As a member of the family, I admit [the wrongdoing] and truly apologize.”

The younger Chun said his grandfather failed to promote the development of democracy and instead went against it, stressing that he caused suffering and pain to the citizens of Gwangju, who bravely opposed Chun’s dictatorship with courage and overcame it.

The younger Chun at one point tearfully thanked Gwangju citizens for welcoming him that day despite his grandfather's atrocities.

Chun apologizes to a victim’s relative at the May 18 Memorial Foundation in Gwangju on Friday. [YONHAP]

When asked by reporters how his family talked about the Gwangju Uprising during his upbringing, the grandson said he was told that it was a “riot, not a democratic movement,” and that his family used to change the subject or keep silent when the topic was broached.

“I grew up among wolves disguised as sheep, and I have lived my life as a cunning wolf myself,” he said. “Now I realize how great of a sinner I am. I’m not [apologizing] because I am innocent, but because I feel guilty.”

At one point, the grandson knelt in front of several women who lost their sons in the protests and bowed deeply. The mothers held his hand and hugged him, saying, “Thank you for being brave.”

“Thank you for your big determination,” said a mother. “Let’s reveal the truth of the Gwangju Uprising calmly and move toward the path of reconciliation,” she said, adding, “Think of Gwangju as your second hometown.”

Chun makes a deep bow in front of some of the victims’ mothers at the May 18 Memorial Foundation in Gwangju on Friday. [YONHAP]

After the event, the grandson visited the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju to pay his respects. During a tour around the cemetery, he took off his black coat and wiped a gravestone with it, saying, “I should have used something better than my clothes.”

Toward the end of his visit, the younger Chun said he felt even more sorry for the victims after seeing their graves.

Chun is expected to stay in Gwangju for the time being, though details of his schedule weren’t immediately revealed to the local press.

The grandson first came to the media limelight earlier this month when he posted photos and videos on his social media accusing his family of multiple crimes, calling his grandfather a “killer” and saying that his family used illicit means to amass wealth.

Regarding himself, he confessed to doing drugs and hooking up with prostitutes.

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 into Korean authorities.

Korea follows the principle of nationality, which means that a Korean national is punishable by Korean law even if they’re in a foreign country.

Police arrested Chun as soon as he arrived at the airport but released him the next day, saying they would investigate him without detention.

BY HWANG HEE-GYU, LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]