Chang Tae-wan, a former commander of the Capital Defense Command who opposed a coup led by former General Chun Doo-hwan on Dec. 12, 1979, died of an illness, Monday. He was 79.
Due to his resistance to the military coup, Chang was forced to retire after Chun rose to power following the assassination of former President Park Chung-hee on Oct. 26 same year.
Chang was elected as president of the Korea Veterans Association in 1994.
In March 2000, he entered the then ruling Democratic Party (DP) and was elected to the National Assembly on the DP’s ticket under the proportional representation system same year.
He later became a member of the DP’s decision-making Supreme Council. He also served as special presidential adviser on veterans affairs during the previous Roh Moo-hyun administration.
His altar was established at the Asan Medical Center in southern Seoul.
He is survived by his wife Lee Byung-ho and one daughter.