By Chung Min-uck
Former President Chun Doo-hwan once considered serving a second presidential term while in office, according to a report from local broadcaster JTBC.
“I tried to extend my presidency for another 7 years but backed off as there would have been unwelcome consequences,” said Chun, 81, during a meeting with students from Yale University’s graduate school of business in his Seoul home, Wednesday.
The ex-military general also went on to say that he was afraid that he would want to be an even longer-serving leader as he would probably want to stay in the presidency as the second-term neared its end.
These comments will likely stir up controversy as they indicate he intended to stay in power after his controversial military dictatorship in the 1980s.
Chun seized power through a 1979 coup following a leadership vacuum after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee. He finished his term in early 1988 after his military colleague Roh Tae-woo won the 1987 presidential vote.
The general-turned-president has long been under fire for quashing the pro-democracy uprising in 1980 in Gwangju, killing around 200 citizens and wounded 1,800 others, according to official data.Despite the brutal crackdown, Chun has also gained some positive reviews for sticking to his promise to step down after his 7-year term and ensuring a peaceful transition of power to the people.
“I also regret that I allowed my successors to only serve a 5-year-term as president. Five years is to short,” Chun said.
Before the end of his term, he rewrote the constitution to shorten the presidential term to 5 years.
Concerning South Korea’s rapid economic growth in the 1980s, he pointed out price stabilization as the main reason.
Though criticized by liberals, Chun’s military dictatorship was seen capable of managing the economy and defending against North Korea.
Chun also said that South Korea doesn’t need nuclear weapons as its closest ally United States has them.
He also added that it is suicidal for North Korea to have nuclear weapons and that China and Russia are threatened by them.
The former president is currently preparing to write his memoir.