"Complex Relationship" Jeon Du-hwan Sheds Silent Tears at the News of Roh Tae-woo's Passing

Former Presidents Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo-hwan attending the verdict trials of December 12 and May 18 in 1996 (from left). / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Former President Jeon Du-hwan was reported to have silently shed tears upon hearing the news of former President Roh Tae-woo's passing.

A representative from former President Jeon's side stated to Yonhap News on the afternoon of the 26th, "After informing Mrs. Lee Soon-ja of former President Roh's death, he did not say anything and only shed tears."

It is reported that former President Jeon's side does not plan to release a separate condolence message. The possibility of visiting the funeral hall to pay respects also seems unlikely.

Former President Jeon, who is currently undergoing trial for charges including defamation of the deceased, is known to be battling multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

On January 5, 1988, then-President Jeon Du-hwan is shaking hands and exchanging New Year's greetings with Roh Tae-woo, the next president, during his visit. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the two former presidents shared a long and complex relationship throughout their lives. Former President Roh succeeded former President Jeon in positions such as Chief of Staff to the Army Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Operations at the Presidential Security Service, and Commander of the Security Command.

After the December 12, 1979 coup that brought former President Jeon to power, former President Roh established himself as the second-in-command and later succeeded Jeon as the 13th president.

Subsequently, both former presidents were imprisoned side by side on November 16 and December 3, 1995, during former President Kim Young-sam's administration, facing historical judgment for the December 12 coup and slush fund scandals. In April 1997, the Supreme Court sentenced former President Jeon to life imprisonment and former President Roh to 17 years in prison, but both were released in December of the same year through a special pardon.

During the prosecution investigation, former President Jeon reportedly said about former President Roh, who was arrested after responding first to the prosecution's summons, "Roh Tae-woo messed things up. He shouldn't have gone to the prosecution so easily; he should have held out until the end." He also said, "After seeing how Roh and his wife Kim Ok-sook changed completely after becoming president and first lady, I realized that handing over the successor position to friends or colleagues should be avoided."

Former President Roh reflected in his memoir, "While understanding their (the Fifth Republic officials') feelings, there was nothing I could do. My philosophy was that if a president ignores the people's demands and acts arbitrarily, he is not a president but a dictator. Because of this difference in perception, my predecessor could feel betrayed and hurt by me, and I felt sorry but had to accept it as 'it couldn't be helped.'"

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