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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.

State funeral to be held for ex-President Roh despite controversy

Seen above is the funeral altar of former President Roh Tae-woo, at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno District, Wednesday. The government will hold a state funeral for Roh, who died on Tuesday at his age of 88. Joint Press CorpsBy Nam Hyun-wooThe government will hold a state funeral for former President Roh Tae-woo, who died Tuesday, despite contradicting views over his record as the co-leader of a military coup and his oppression of pro-democracy movements.“The deceased served as the 13th president of Korea and achieved much in advancing progress for the country,” Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday. “The government will hold a state funeral to praise Roh's achievements and do its utmost in paying its respects to him.” Following the decision, Kim was made chairman of a committee overseeing a memorial period that will last until Saturday. During the memorial period prior to the funeral service, the government will recommend all public offices and homes fly the national flag at half-mast.President Moon Jae-in expressed hi

Oct 27, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
State funeral to be held for ex-President Roh despite controversy
  • Chinese Ambassador Xing pays tribute to ex-President Roh
  • Former UN chief Ban mourns death of ex-President Roh, praises his post-Cold War diplomacy

Moon expresses condolences to ex-President Roh, a day after his death

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in on Wednesday expressed his condolences to late former President Roh Tae-woo, crediting the deceased with foreign policy achievements but also describing his involvement in a coup and the brutal crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising as "faults."The measured message by Moon, which came a day after Roh died at age 88, suggested that soul-searching had taken place to determine the right balance between paying respect to a late predecessor and public sentiment critical of Roh's dark legacy.Earlier in the day, the government decided to hold a state funeral for Roh, the country's last general-turned-president accused of deep involvement in the 1979 coup and the bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju the following year."President Moon Jae-in prays for the deceased and delivered his words of condolences to the bereaved family," presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee told reporters. "Former President Roh Tae-woo has a few historical faults, including the forceful crackdown of the May 18 Democratizat

Oct 27, 2021
Moon expresses condolences to ex-President Roh, a day after his death
  • Korea to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh

Politicians, business leaders, citizens mourn death of ex-President Roh

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won visits the funeral home at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul, Oct. 27, to pay respects over the death of late former President Roh Tae-woo. YonhapPoliticians, business leaders and citizens on Wednesday mourned the death of former President Roh Tae-woo, whose mixed presidential legacy drew both public praise and criticism.The family of Roh began receiving mourners at the funeral home at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul on Wednesday morning, one day after the former president died at age 88.Roh, who served as president from 1988-93, was recently admitted to a hospital after his health deteriorated but failed to recover.As soon as the mourning altar opened, a succession of politicians and other social figures, as well as journalists and sympathetic citizens, gathered to pay respect to Roh. Condolence flowers from President Moon Jae-in, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Lee Myung-bak, Samsung Electronics Co. vice chairman Lee Jae-yong and others lined the walls of the mourning room.Roh Soh-

Oct 27, 2021
Politicians, business leaders, citizens mourn death of ex-President Roh
  • Korea to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh

Korea to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh

Former President Roh Tae-woo / Korea Times fileSouth Korea decided to hold a state funeral for late former President Roh Tae-woo, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Wednesday. Kim unveiled the decision during a Cabinet meeting, saying that Roh made significant contributions to the nation's development as the 13th-term president."With Cabinet members, I express my deep condolences on the passing of former president Roh Tae-woo and give my sympathy to his family members," Kim said. "The government will hold a state funeral and thoroughly prepare it with respect so that people can pay tribute to his contribution." Kim and other Cabinet members will visit the funeral altar of Roh later Wednesday.The decision comes as the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae faced a dilemma over how much courtesy to extend to Roh, the country's last general-turned-president accused of deep involvement in a coup and the bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising.President Moon Jae-in has not issued any message yet since Roh died Tuesday at age 88, suggesting that soul-searching is under way to determine th

Oct 27, 2021
Korea to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh
  • PHOTOS Key moments of ex-President Roh Tae-woo
  • Roh Tae-woo's mixed presidential legacy
  • Politicians, business leaders, citizens mourn death of ex-President Roh
  • Moon expresses condolences to ex-President Roh, a day after his death

Moon's office faces dilemma over state funeral for former President Roh

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapThe office of President Moon Jae-in was mulling how much courtesy to extend to late former President Roh Tae-woo, including whether to hold a state funeral for the country's last general-turned-president accused of deep involvement in a coup and the bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising.Moon has not issued any message yet since Roh died Tuesday at age 88, suggesting that soul-searching is under way to determine the right balance between paying respect to a late predecessor and public sentiment critical of his dark legacy.Under a law, a state funeral will be held if a former, an incumbent or a president-elect dies. But the law does not specify whether a state funeral will be possible if they commit a grave crime, like a military coup. Presidential Chief of Staff You Young-min told lawmakers on Tuesday that a state funeral for Roh is "possible, but it needs a process." Former President Roh Tae-woo / YonhapRoh rose to prominence after helping former President Chun Doo-hwan seize power through the 1979 military coup in the wake of a political vacuum c

Oct 27, 2021
Moon's office faces dilemma over state funeral for former President Roh
  • PHOTOS Key moments of ex-President Roh Tae-woo
  • Roh Tae-woo's mixed presidential legacy

Roh Tae-woo's mixed presidential legacy

Then-President Roh Tae-woo, accompanied by first lady Kim Ok-sook, attends the opening ceremony for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Summer Games held for the first time in South Korea, in this file photo. YonhapHe was co-leader of military coup, but first directly elected presidentBy Kwon Mee-yooRoh Tae-woo, Korea's first democratically elected president, passed away at the age of 88, Tuesday, leaving a mixed legacy regarding his role in Korea's path to democracy. The general-turned-president was the first to be elected through a direct election in 1987 after military dictatorship, but also helped stage a military coup and was responsible for the suppression of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Movement. Born in the southeastern city of Daegu on Dec. 4, 1932, Roh later served in the Korean Army after graduating from the Korean Military Academy where he met Chun Doo-hwan whom he helped to overthrow the government in the Dec. 12, 1979, military coup.Roh is also accused of brutally cracking down on pro-democracy protesters during the 1980 uprising under the Chun administration.After retiring as a

Oct 26, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Roh Tae-woo's mixed presidential legacy
  • Former President Roh Tae-woo dies
  • PHOTOS Key moments of ex-President Roh Tae-woo
  • Moon's office faces dilemma over state funeral for former President Roh
  • Korea to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh

Gender equality ministry becomes lightning rod before election

By Bahk Eun-jiDebate has resurfaced over the existence of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, as leading conservative main opposition party presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl brought up the ministry's existence when he announced his election pledges last week. Yoon Seok-youl /Yonhap“The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family failed to properly perform its role to accomplish gender equality, but rather disappointed the public by treating men as potential criminals,” Yoon said, Thursday, while announcing his campaign pledges targeted at young voters.“I will reorganize the ministry and readjust its tasks and budget so that the renewed ministry can embrace diversity and realize practical gender equality between men and women.”Experts say that this particular campaign pledge is aimed at appealing to young male voters, who often question the reasons for the ministry's existence and call for its abolishment.Yoon also said he would remove “women” from the ministry's full Korean name, which translates to “Ministry of Women and Family.&rdquo

Oct 26, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Gender equality ministry becomes lightning rod before election

Ruling party candidate Lee strives to style himself as Moon's successor

President Moon Jae-in and ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung pose before their tea meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooRuling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung met President Moon Jae-in, Tuesday, and promised to spare no effort in establishing the Moon administration “place in history.”This was seen as Lee attempting to style himself as a “rightful” successor to Moon, who is still enjoying a relatively high job approval rate though his presidency will end in less than 200 days, and pursuing unity in the ruling party, which was torn apart after a heated competition between presidential hopefuls during its primaries. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Lee visited the presidential office and had a 50-minute meeting with the President over tea. During their conversation, Moon congratulated Lee on his victory in the primaries, saying “when you finish a competition, it is important to patch up all the wounds inflicted on each other to become one team.” Lee replied that the

Oct 26, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Ruling party candidate Lee strives to style himself as Moon's successor

Ex-President Roh Tae-woo dies

Former President Roh Tae-woo / Korea Times fileFormer President Roh Tae-woo, who accepted popular calls for a direct presidential election system at the start of South Korea's democratization and sought to broaden diplomatic ties with socialist nations while in office, died Tuesday, his aides said. He was 88.Roh, who served as president from 1988-93, was recently admitted to a hospital after his health deteriorated but failed to recover, they said.Roh, a former general, succeeded former President Chun Doo-hwan after helping the latter seize power through a 1979 military coup in the wake of a power vacuum created by the death of former authoritarian President Park Chung-hee.As pro-demoracy rallies spread massively across the nation in 1987, Roh accepted calls for a direct presidential sysmtem in what is known as the "June 29 Declaration," and he was elected president later that year through a direct vote.In an apparent bid to shed his military image, Roh began his administration under the slogan of opening "an era of ordinary people."Roh has been credited with building ties with socia

Oct 26, 2021
Ex-President Roh Tae-woo dies

Moon meets ruling party's presidential nominee

President Moon Jae-in, right, and Lee Jae-myung, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's presidential nominee, smile during their meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Oct. 26. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in held a meeting with presidential nominee Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday in a move that could help solidify Lee's standing within the party after a bitter primary.The tea meeting at Cheong Wa Dae came 16 days after Lee was nominated as the DP's presidential candidate on Oct. 10. It also came a day after Lee announced his resignation as Gyeonggi Province governor to focus on the presidential election scheduled for March 9.Political parties are closely watching the meeting as to whether Moon and Lee will discuss sensitive issues like the corruption scandal surrounding a land development project undertaken in the city of Seongnam when Lee was its mayor.The opposition party accuses Lee of wrongdoing and is calling for an independent counsel investigation.Presidential officials said, however, that the two are unlikely to discuss any political or election issues b

Oct 26, 2021
Moon meets ruling party's presidential nominee
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