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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Majority of public criticizes Chun's unrepentance after his death

The mother of a Gwangju citizen who died after being shot by soldiers during the military's suppression of 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy movement, cries at the grave of her son in the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, Wednesday, a day after Chun Doo-hwan, a military general who led the suppression and seized power in a military coup that year, died. YonhapBy Jung Da-min The death of Chun Doo-hwan, a military general who had seized power in the military coup of 1979, has produced different reactions from the public compared to the deaths of other political heavyweights or former leaders of the country. The majority of the public expressed anger or criticism for Chun's refusal to apologize for the brutal military suppression of the 1980 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, remaining unrepentant for the past 41 years until his death on Tuesday.Yet some far-right organizations have said that Chun had shown great leadership while serving as the country's president from 1980 to 1988 in developing the country's economy, but such voices have been outnumbered by those criticizing Chun for the

Nov 24, 2021
Majority of public criticizes Chun's unrepentance after his death
  • Victims of Chun's 1980 Gwangju crackdown file damage suit against government

Yoon leads Lee by smaller margin than before in presidential race: survey

This combination of file photos shows ruling Democratic Party presidential nominee Lee Jae-myung, left, and main opposition People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl. YonhapMain opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl is leading his ruling Democratic Party rival, Lee Jae-myung, by a smaller margin than before in a hypothetical multicandidate race, a survey showed Wednesday.Yoon garnered 44.1 percent support against Lee's 37 percent in the survey of 1,011 adults conducted Monday and Tuesday, according to Realmeter.The difference was down to 7.1 percentage points from 9.8 points two weeks ago after Yoon lost 0.3 point and Lee gained 2.4 points.Yoon still led beyond the margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.In third place was Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, at 4 percent, followed by Sim Sang-jeung of the minor progressive Justice Party at 3.8 percent and former Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon at 1.1 percent.Realmeter said support for Yoon was almost unchanged,

Nov 24, 2021
Yoon leads Lee by smaller margin than before in presidential race: survey
  • Ex-chief aide of DP presidential candidate Lee questioned over development scandal

Chun dies without apologies for scars left in Gwangju

Former President Chun Doo-hwan, center, reads a statement refuting the prosecution's charges against him during a press conference in front of his house in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul, in this Dec. 2, 1995, file photo. YonhapGwangju citizens express anger at Chun, who never admitted responsibility for Gwangju MassacreBy Nam Hyun-wooChun Doo-hwan's political career will be remembered for his desire for power and the people's resistance against his military coup, which was symbolized by the 1980 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju. Despite continued demands for him to apologize for the brutal military suppression of the uprising, Chun remained unrepentant for the past 41 years. He passed away on Tuesday, leaving behind the unhealed scars of victims and their families in the southwestern part of the country.Following authoritarian President Park Chung-hee's assassination on Oct. 26, 1979, hopes started to grow in Korea for a democratic government, with then-acting President Choi Kyu-hah calling for a constitutional amendment to have democratic presidential elections. The group

Nov 23, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Chun dies without apologies for scars left in Gwangju
  • Former strongman Chun Doo-hwan dies at 90

Chun's death draws cold reactions

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers who represent constituencies in Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces hold a press conference at the National Assembly, Tuesday, urging the government not to hold a state funeral for former President Chun Doo-hwan who died in the morning on the same day. Joint press corps By Jun Ji-hyeThe death of former President Chun Doo-hwan, Tuesday, drew mostly cold reactions from political parties, civic groups and internet commenters, given his responsibility for the horrific events of the 1980 pro-democracy protest in Gwangju. The former Army general-turned dictator, who seized power through a 1979 military coup and ruled the country until 1988, died in his home in Seoul at the age of 90. In 1980, he ordered the deadly crackdown on Gwangju to suppress a pro-democracy uprising, leaving hundreds dead and thousands wounded.Liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung called Chun the “main culprit” of t

Nov 23, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Chun's death draws cold reactions
  • Former strongman Chun Doo-hwan dies at 90

Former strongman Chun Doo-hwan dies at 90

Former President Chun Doo-hwan leaves his house in Seoul to head for Gwangju to attend an appellate court hearing on his conviction for libel, in this Aug. 9 photo. Chun died at his residence, Tuesday. He was 90. YonhapEx-dictator will not be buried in national cemetery; no state funeral to be heldBy Kang Seung-wooFormer President Chun Doo-hwan, who seized power in a coup and governed the nation with a firm hand from 1980 to 1988, died, Tuesday. He was 90. According to Min Jeong-ki, a former presidential secretary, Chun, who had multiple myeloma ― a cancer formed in white blood cells ― died at his home in western Seoul at 8:45 a.m. After he collapsed in a bathroom, emergency services were called at 8:55 a.m. and paramedics who arrived at 9:12 a.m. then confirmed his death. His body was transferred to the Severance Hospital where a memorial altar was set up. Until recently, Chun had been receiving treatment at the medical center due to his worsening health.“Chun's last wish was for his remains be buried on high ground at the border overlooking North Korean territory,” Min

Nov 23, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Former strongman Chun Doo-hwan dies at 90
  • Chun's death draws cold reactions
  • Chun dies without apologies for scars left in Gwangju
  • PHOTOS Key moments from the life of Chun Doo-hwan

Moon congratulates BTS on winning top honor at AMAs

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in on Tuesday congratulated South Korean supergroup BTS on becoming the first Asian act to win artist of the year, considered the top award, at the American Music Awards (AMAs).Moon lauded the boy band for winning the award in a message posted on his social media accounts, saying the win could help Korean people increase their confidence in Korean culture. Citing recent remarks by Joseph Nye, professor emeritus at Harvard University, that South Korea is well endowed with soft power on culture, Moon said such cultural success has boosted the nation's status globally. Nye made the remarks at a conference on Korea's soft power in Washington last month. During the conference, Nye said many Korean people think they are left behind, despite their success over the past 60 years. Moon said BTS has confirmed Nye's assessment and asked people to have pride and confidence. (Yonhap)

Nov 23, 2021
Moon congratulates BTS on winning top honor at AMAs
  • PHOTOS BTS at AMAs winning 'artist of the year'

Civic groups slam late ex-President Chun for leaving no apology for Gwangju victims

Former President Chun Doo-hwan speaks in front of his home in Seoul, Dec. 2, 1995. The former military strongman, who crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in 1980, died on Nov. 23. He was 90. AP-YonhapVictims of the bloody crackdown on a 1980 democracy uprising voiced frustrations Tuesday, as their efforts to bring former President Chun Doo-hwan to justice came to a sudden halt with his death earlier in the day.Chun, an Army general-turned strongman, died at his home in western Seoul at age 90 after suffering from chronic illnesses, leaving behind a dark legacy of seizing power in a 1979 military coup and ruthlessly cracking down on the civil uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju the following year.Despite fact-finding attempts in the past, however, it remains unclear who ordered the opening of fire on civilian protesters in Gwangju, and Chun has denied his role despite widespread belief he was responsible.Holding an emergency press conference following the news of Chun's death, civic groups, including the May 18 Memorial Foundation and victims' groups, stressed Chun's death w

Nov 23, 2021
Civic groups slam late ex-President Chun for leaving no apology for Gwangju victims
  • Former President Chun Doo-hwan dies

Chun Doo-hwan known for bloody crackdown on democracy uprising

Former President Chun Doo-hwan dressed in prison garb enters the Seoul Court House for his first trial on corruption charges, in Seoul, Feb. 26, 1996. AP-YonhapDisgraced former President Chun Doo-hwan, an ex-Army general who seized power in a military coup in 1979, left a deep scar in South Korea's modern history that has still not healed: the bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy civil uprising. Chun, who died Tuesday at the age of 90, never issued an apology or showed remorse for those killed in the 1980 uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju. He drew a firestorm of criticism from the victims' families by calling the uprising a "riot." Chun's junta sent tank-led troops, helicopters and paratroopers to ruthlessly crack down on the uprising in Gwangju, leaving more than 200 dead and 1,800 others wounded, according to conservative official data.In the revolt, tens of thousands of Gwangju citizens rose up against the military junta led by Chun, as he seized power in the coup, following the assassination of his mentor, late President Park Chung-hee, eight months earlier.In his 2017

Nov 23, 2021
Chun Doo-hwan known for bloody crackdown on democracy uprising
  • Former President Chun Doo-hwan dies

Former President Chun Doo-hwan dies

Former President Chun Doo-hwan / Korea Times fileFormer President Chun Doo-hwan, a general-turned strongman widely criticized for seizing power through a 1979 military coup and ruthlessly quelling a pro-democracy civil uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju the following year, died Tuesday at the age of 90.Chun died at his home in western Seoul around 8:40 a.m. after battling chronic ailments, aides said.His body will be taken to Seoul's Severance Hospital, said Min Jeong-ki, a former presidential secretary.Chun's last wish was that his remains be buried "on a frontline high ground overlooking North Korean territory," Min said, adding Chun's body will be cremated before being buried at a site to be determined later.The former Army general rose to power after staging a coup in the wake of the assassination of then President Park Chung-hee in 1979 and ruled the country for eight years until 1988.One of his biggest and darkest political legacies is his deadly crackdown on the Gwangju pro-democracy civil uprising in 1980, which left more than 200 dead and 1,800 others wounded, acco

Nov 23, 2021
Former President Chun Doo-hwan dies
  • Chun Doo-hwan known for bloody crackdown on democracy uprising
  • Civic groups slam late ex-President Chun for leaving no apology for Gwangju victims

Rival parties set up election camps to prepare for full-fledged campaigns

Main opposition People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press CorpsBy Jung Da-min The country's two major parties are preparing to begin full-fledged campaigns for the next presidential election slated for March, with the rival candidates, Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), in the final stages of organizing their election camps. While Yoon has scouted political heavyweights in an attempt to expand his support base, Lee is set to reform the party's election camp by reducing its scale to make it slimmer and more agile.On Sunday, Yoon officially announced the appointment of Kim Chong-in, former head of the PPP's emergency committee, as his election committee chief; Kim Byong-joon, former interim chief of the Liberty Korea Party, a predecessor of the PPP, as standing committee co-chairman along with party leader Lee Jun-seok; and Kim Han-gil, former leader of the Democ

Nov 22, 2021
Rival parties set up election camps to prepare for full-fledged campaigns
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