I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Ex-president's son hopes to become pastor
Former president Chun Doo-hwan's second son Jae-guk / Korea Times file
By Kang Hyun-kyung
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Chun Jae-guk, 57, the second son of former President Chun Doo-hwan, said last week that he has been attending divinity school to become a pastor.
On a radio show of the international Christian radio network Far Eastern Broadcasting Company (FEBC) on Friday, Chun Jr. said he was inspired to go to divinity school while he was in prison.
He was released from prison after serving two years and eight months. The Supreme Court sentenced him in August 2015 to three years behind bars, which was suspended for four years, along with a 4 billion won fine. He was on trial for tax evasion.
Of the 4-billion won fine, he paid only 140 million won (3.5 percent of the total) and performed 32 months of penal labor in prison to pay the rest of the evaded tax.
The latest update about the former president's second son was made public when the radio show host Rev. Kim Jang-hwan, also known by his English name Billy Kim, informed his audience that the former president's son is now a divinity school student.
Kim said he was surprised to hear the news, asking what brought him to theological training.
Chun said he had the calling on his first day in prison. “I was apprehended by the police in the early morning of July 1, 2016 when I went down to the parking lot to go to work, and then I went to prison,” he said. “I spent 2 years and 8 months there. On the first day, I was looking out through the barred window of my cell and heard someone singing a hymn… Tears welled up in my eyes and I cried. He was a bad singer though. I wanted to sing along and pray to God… That's how I chose to go to divinity school.”
Chun said he had been a Protestant even before he went to prison. “I went to church. I attended early morning worship service and tithed every month. But at that time I was selfish and prayed to God that He would give me more fortune and blessings,” he said.
He said his father was suffering from Alzheimer's disease but was more than happy to hear when he informed him of the decision.
“My father told me if I become a pastor, he would attend my church. Hearing what he said, I was determined to pursue my dream,” he said.
Chun Jr. appeared on a radio show with his wife, actress Park Sang-ah.
Park, Chun's second wife, said she initially opposed her husband's decision to go to divinity school. “He and I are sinners and everybody knows that…. If he becomes a pastor, I was afraid it could rather do a disservice to God,” she said. “We had an argument and I insisted he shouldn't do it… But I realized that God had a different idea.”