The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Song Ji-hyo to make silver screen return in 'House of Meeting'

  • 3

    First S. Korea spy satellite successfully launched into orbit

  • 5

    NewJeans wins 2 grand prizes at Melon Music Awards 2023

  • 7

    Tension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition party

  • 9

    Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism

  • 11

    Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road?

  • 13

    Half-conscious Koreans

  • 15

    INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup

  • 17

    Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews

  • 19

    Yoon's state visit to Netherlands to focus on semiconductor cooperation

  • 2

    Seoul says FEOC guidance reduces uncertainty, will continue close consultation with US

  • 4

    N. Korean leader calls for increased aerial combat posture amid tension over satellite launch

  • 6

    5 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views

  • 8

    INTERVIEWEcolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management

  • 10

    Yoon accepts resignation offer of head of state broadcasting watchdog

  • 12

    Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid

  • 14

    Life expectancy of Koreans falls for first time in 52 years over COVID-19: data

  • 16

    Late Ven. Jaseung's additional notes on last will found at his residence

  • 18

    DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions

  • 20

    Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, December 3, 2023 | 19:46
Society
Revelations from Chun Doo-hwan's grandson cause stir
Posted : 2023-03-16 21:04
Updated : 2023-03-17 16:59
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Woo-won calls grandfather 'mass murderer,' family members 'criminals'

By Jun Ji-hye

The recent revelations made by the late former authoritarian leader Chun Doo-hwan's grandson are causing a stir as he said he and his family members have enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle thanks to huge slush funds.

                                                                                                This captured image from Chun Woo-won's Instagram shows former President Chun Doo-hwan lying down with two grandsons. Woo-won, the grandson of the former dictator, has recently made a series of revelations about his family members.  Captured from Instagram
This captured image from Chun Woo-won's Instagram shows former President Chun Doo-hwan lying down with two grandsons. Woo-won, the grandson of the former dictator, has recently made a series of revelations about his family members. Captured from Instagram
The former dictator died at age 90 of chronic ailments in November 2021, having not paid back the bulk of the forfeiture related to his treason and bribery convictions. Attention is drawn to whether the grandson's revelations could lead state prosecutors to collect 92.5 billion won ($70.5 million) of the still-unrecovered money illegally attained by Chun.

Since Monday, the grandson ― Chun Woo-won ― has been making a series of revelations about his family members through Instagram, YouTube and several media interviews, calling his grandfather a "mass murderer," and all of his family members "criminals."

Woo-won, the son of Jae-yong, the second son of the former president, said he decided to make the revelations to help uncover the "criminal activities and fraud" committed by his family members.

Chun Doo-hwan is a former Army general who rose to power through a military coup in December 1979 and led an authoritarian government from 1980 to 1988.

During the Gwangju Democratic Uprising that began on May 18 in 1980, thousands of Gwangju citizens rose up against the military junta led by Chun. According to official data, more than 200 people were killed, with 1,800 wounded.

                                                                                                This captured image from Chun Woo-won's Instagram shows former President Chun Doo-hwan lying down with two grandsons. Woo-won, the grandson of the former dictator, has recently made a series of revelations about his family members.  Captured from Instagram
Chun Woo-won
The Supreme Court found him guilty of treason, bribery and other crimes in 1997 and sentenced him to death, which was later commuted to a life sentence, before a presidential pardon released him from prison. He was also ordered to forfeit 220 billion won for having amassed slush funds, which he refused to pay, claiming to have only 290,000 won to his name.

State prosecutors have so far been able to collect 127.9 billion won, accounting for only 58 percent of the total forfeit as of last October.

Contrary to the former strongman's claims of poverty, he and his family members have since been living in luxury, according to Woo-won.

Woo-won, 27, claimed that huge slush funds could still be found at the house in western Seoul's Yeonhui-dong where the Chun's widow Lee Soon-ja lives.

"I could go to school in the United States as I was given millions of won from an unknown source every year," the grandson said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Wednesday. "At least 1 billion won was used for my education. That would not have been clean money."

He said his uncles and cousins "would have been given much more money for sure."

In a video clip he uploaded to Instagram, he said his father has been committing fraud in Korea by posing as an evangelist and is currently going through a legal process to acquire U.S. citizenship.

"Please help, so this person cannot use slush funds in the United States and pretend to be all nice in front of people and entirely different behind their back," Woo-won said.

                                                                                                This captured image from Chun Woo-won's Instagram shows former President Chun Doo-hwan lying down with two grandsons. Woo-won, the grandson of the former dictator, has recently made a series of revelations about his family members.  Captured from Instagram
This captured image from a video clip uploaded on Chun Woo-won's Instagram shows a woman playing screen golf at home. Woo-won later confirmed the woman was his grandmother, former first lady Lee Soon-ja. Captured from Instagram
Woo-won also said the third son of the former president is currently running a winery in Napa Valley, a renowned Californian wine-producing region.

"Only those who have astronomical money can enter the winery business. I can smell dark money here," Woo-won said.

The grandson also disclosed another video clip in which an old woman was playing screen golf at home.

He later confirmed that the woman was his grandmother ― Lee Soon-ja.

Regarding his son's revelation, Jae-yong said his son has been suffering from depression for years, making an apology for "failing to take care of his child well."

Regarding the various accusations raised by his son, Jae-yong said, "I am too embarrassed to comment."

Meanwhile, Woo-won has also launched accusations against two Air Force officers, accusing one of using illegal drugs and the other of committing sex crimes.

In response, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that it is reviewing the need to investigate the two, while not ruling out the possibility that Woo-won has made unilateral, groundless claims.
Emailjjh@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1[INTERVIEW] Ecolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management INTERVIEWEcolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management
2Major conglomerates speed up generational shifts in leadershipMajor conglomerates speed up generational shifts in leadership
3PPP slams abstainers in Assembly resolution on China's forced return of NK defectors PPP slams abstainers in Assembly resolution on China's forced return of NK defectors
4KOICA’s global supporters conclude remarkable journey with grand finale showKOICA’s global supporters conclude remarkable journey with grand finale show
5Son-dol: a cold day for a ferryman and a merchantSon-dol: a cold day for a ferryman and a merchant
6[INTERVIEW] 'Lifeline for migrant workers in Korea' - Rev. Kim fights for foreign employees' rights INTERVIEW'Lifeline for migrant workers in Korea' - Rev. Kim fights for foreign employees' rights
7[INTERVIEW] Korea to work with US, Japan to fight climate change INTERVIEWKorea to work with US, Japan to fight climate change
8Korean economy to start shrinking by 2050 if low birthrate unaddressed: BOK reportKorean economy to start shrinking by 2050 if low birthrate unaddressed: BOK report
9Korea vows to foster nuclear energy to achieve net zeroKorea vows to foster nuclear energy to achieve net zero
10Tensions rise as opposition demands special probe into first lady Tensions rise as opposition demands special probe into first lady
Top 5 Entertainment News
1JYP to host annual audition in JanuaryJYP to host annual audition in January
2Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International Festival Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International Festival
3[INTERVIEW] Hip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup
4ONE PACT debuts hoping to leave big impact on K-pop scene ONE PACT debuts hoping to leave big impact on K-pop scene
5[INTERVIEW] ASTRO members aim to shine in musical theaterINTERVIEWASTRO members aim to shine in musical theater
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group