When and where will Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul pay tribute to Choi Kyu-hah and Park Chung-hee?

Kwon is scheduled to attend a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Choi Kyu-hah’s death at Daejeon National Cemetery later Thursday. He plans to visit Seoul National Cemetery on Monday to pay tribute to Park Chung-hee.

Why is Kwon Oh-eul honoring former presidents regardless of their political backgrounds?

Kwon has said that former presidents’ service to the nation deserves recognition beyond political ideologies. His planned visit to Park’s grave is considered rare because paying respects to the controversial former leader has often drawn criticism, especially from the liberal bloc.

Why has Kwon Oh-eul faced pushback over his position on paying respects to Roh Tae-woo?

Kwon said he personally wants to pay respects to Roh but will not do so for now, prompting criticism from some liberal politicians. Roh was Chun Doo-hwan’s right-hand man in the 1979 military coup, and both men were later convicted and imprisoned for their roles in the coup and corruption before receiving presidential pardons.

Veterans minister to pay tribute to 2 late former presidents

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Summary

Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul will pay tribute to former presidents Choi Kyu-hah at Daejeon National Cemetery later Thursday and Park Chung-hee at Seoul National Cemetery on Monday. The visits follow Kwon’s pledge to honor past leaders regardless of political differences. Paying respects to Park is considered rare and has often drawn criticism, particularly from the liberal bloc. Kwon said he does not plan to pay respects to Roh Tae-woo for now, prompting pushback from some liberal politicians.

Key Facts

Choi served as president from December 1979 to August 1980 and is the shortest-serving president in post-Korean War history.
Choi assumed office after Park was assassinated in October 1979 and resigned under pressure from then Army Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, who took power through a military coup.
Roh served as president from 1988 to 1993 and was Chun’s right-hand man in the 1979 military coup.
Roh and Chun were later convicted and imprisoned for their roles in the coup and corruption before being released under presidential pardons.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 22, 2026 9:48 am KST

Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul / Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs

Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul will visit the graves of two former presidents, including controversial former dictator Park Chung-hee, the veterans ministry said Thursday, following through on his pledge to honor past leaders regardless of political differences.

Kwon was set to attend a memorial ceremony later in the day marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Choi Kyu-hah, the 10th president, from December 1979 to August 1980, at the Daejeon National Cemetery and pay his respects, according to the ministry.

Choi assumed office following the assassination of Park in October 1979 and resigned under pressure from then Army Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, who took power through a military coup. Choi is the shortest-serving president in post-Korean War history.

Kwon plans to visit the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday and pay tribute to Park, the ministry said.

Kwon's moves are considered rare, as paying respects to controversial past leaders like Park has often drawn criticism, especially from the liberal bloc.

Kwon, a Cabinet member in the liberal Lee Jae Myung government, has expressed a commitment to honoring former presidents regardless of political background, saying their service to the nation deserves recognition beyond political ideologies.

Kwon said earlier he "personally" wants to, but will not for now, pay respects to the late former President Roh Tae-woo, who served from 1988-93, sparking pushback from some liberal politicians. Roh was Chun's right-hand man in the 1979 military coup.

Both Roh and Chun were later convicted and imprisoned for their roles in the coup and corruption, before being released under presidential pardons.

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