[Jeon Du-hwan Death] Foreign Media: "The 'Massacrer of Gwangju'... Bloody Suppression of Hundreds of Citizens"

Le Monde, AFP, AP and other reports citing Yonhap News Agency

A funeral hall has been set up at the Yonsei Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd, where former President Jeon Du-hwan, who passed away at the age of 90, is being mourned. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Major global foreign media and news agencies on the 23rd simultaneously released urgent articles citing Yonhap News Agency about the death of Jeon Du-hwan.

France's Le Monde described Jeon as a former president of South Korea who graduated from the Korea Military Academy and brutally suppressed the Gwangju Democratization Movement in the 1980s. The newspaper reported, "He was a former South Korean president who brutally suppressed the democratization movement that took place in Gwangju in the 1980s, stepped down in 1988, and passed away at the age of 90."

Le Monde, citing Yonhap News Agency, conveyed this news while noting, "The establishment of the military dictatorship was one of the most brutal events in South Korean history since the Korean War, with hundreds of citizens sacrificed at the time." It detailed his biography, including his birth in 1931 in Gyeongsangnam-do, a difficult childhood, graduation from the Korea Military Academy in 1955 and commissioning as a second lieutenant, his military connection with former President Park Jeong-hee in 1961, the formation of the secret organization 'Hanahoe,' and his rise and fall following Park's assassination and his own presidential tenure.

AFP also cited Yonhap News Agency to report Jeon's death, stating, "He brutally suppressed opposition forces and was ousted by large-scale democratization protests," and introduced him as the "butcher of Gwangju" due to ordering the military to suppress the Gwangju Democratization Movement. However, it added that he led national economic growth and successfully hosted the 1988 Olympics. It also noted that he was the first South Korean president to peacefully transfer power to his successor.

AP News urgently reported Jeon's death, stating, "After seizing power through a coup in 1979, he brutally suppressed democratization activists and was imprisoned during his tenure for misconduct." It explained the background by saying, "Former President Park was his 'mentor,' and less than two months after Park was assassinated at a late-night drinking party, Jeon brought tanks and troops to Seoul."

The New York Times (NYT) described Jeon as "the most criticized military dictator in this country," pointing out that "he seized power through a coup and ruled the country with an iron fist throughout the 1980s." The newspaper mentioned his "achievements" such as correcting South Korea's chronic inflation during his tenure, achieving 10% annual economic growth, and winning the bid to host the 1988 Olympics against historic rival Japan. However, it emphasized, "Jeon is remembered above all as a dictator," adding an analysis from domestic experts that "the negative legacy far outweighs the positive achievements."

Regarding Jeon's authoritarian ruling style, the NYT also introduced an anecdote that during his tenure, he once called the national soccer team coach during a match to give tactical instructions. It also reported that prime-time TV news started every day with news related to Jeon, and a bald comedian who resembled Jeon was banned from TV for that reason.

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