Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
'Torture technician' Lee regrets past activity
By Kim Rahn
Former police Inspector Lee Geun-an speaks during an event at a restaurant in eastern Seoul, Friday, celebrating the publication of his autobiography. / Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
Former police inspector Lee Geun-an, nicknamed the “torture technician” during the dictatorial Chun Doo-hwan regime in the 1980s, has acknowledged that it was wrong to have tortured people.
The 74-year-old said he has repented of his past during a party celebrating the publication of his autobiography in eastern Seoul, Friday.
Lee brutally tortured democracy activists, including the late politician Kim Geun-tae. Recently a movie, "National Security" that dramatizes the use of torture during the Chun Doo-Hwan government, was released.
“Torture is wrong from the human point of view,” he said.
When asked whether he believes Kim forgave him, Lee said yes, saying, “If he didn’t, why would he say he did and hug me?” In 2005, Kim interviewed Lee who was jailed for acts of torture, and told him that he forgave him.
But in his book, Lee defended the use of torture, saying it was a consequence of the demands of the time. “I took pride in my work, thinking torturing was a patriotic act, and received a state medal. But after the Chun regime, I was named torture technician and harshly criticized,” he said in the book.