[Report] "Can't Even Mourn?" vs "Unacceptable" Jeon Du-hwan Street Memorial Altar Removal Controversy

Chun Doo-hwan Dies at 90 on the 23rd
Conservative Groups Say "He Has Merits as President," Set Up Altar in Front of Bosingak, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Then Removed
Civilians Say "Altars Should Be Allowed" vs "Our Generation Cannot Forgive"

On the 24th, the incense altar for Jeon Du-hwan set up by a conservative group was dismantled. Photo by Yoon Seul-gi seul97@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] "He was a former president, so shouldn't a memorial altar be allowed?", "Jeon Du-hwan, who massacred Gwangju citizens, cannot be forgiven by our generation."

Former President Jeon Du-hwan passed away due to an illness at the age of 90. Jeon, who seized power through the December 12 military coup, was criticized for committing historical wrongs such as massacring innocent citizens during the suppression of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, but instead of apologizing, he consistently ignored the issue, causing public outrage.

He emerged after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee on October 26, 1979, and formed the New Military Group along with the private organization 'Hanahoe,' centered on the 11th class of the Korea Military Academy, including former President Roh Tae-woo. He gradually took control of the military leadership, the Central Government Complex, and the Ministry of National Defense, succeeding in the December 12 coup in 1979.

At that time, citizens were filled with hope that democracy could be realized following the death of the dictator Park. After the start of the semester in March 1980, over 100,000 university students nationwide gathered at Seoul Station Plaza from May 1, 1980, to call for democratization. This is known as the 'Seoul Spring.' As demands for democratization intensified, Jeon expanded the nationwide emergency martial law on May 17, 1980, under the pretext of restoring order.

In Gwangju as well, protests against Jeon's military dictatorship broke out. However, the New Military Group deployed martial law troops and the Airborne Special Forces Brigade to suppress Gwangju by force. The May 18 Gwangju massacre, which resulted in the highest number of civilian casualties since the Korean War in 1950, remains the greatest indelible stain in Jeon's political history.

Some conservative groups related to Jeon's death, who are evaluated as a 'sinner of history,' attempted to recognize his achievements as president and secretly set up a memorial altar for Jeon in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th. However, Jongno-gu Office removed the altar after about two hours, citing possible violations of the Road Act.

On the morning of the 24th, a portrait of former President Jeon Du-hwan, left after demolition, was placed in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The conservative group Taegukgi Revolution National Movement Headquarters (Gukbon) set up a memorial altar for the former president during late-night hours on the same day.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A representative of the Taegeukgi Revolution National Movement Headquarters (Gukbon), met in front of the dismantled tent, expressed dissatisfaction. The Gukbon representative raised his voice, saying, "In a democratic country, isn't there freedom to support President Jeon Du-hwan?" He argued, "It seems the Moon Jae-in government is taking a one-sided left-leaning path. It is true that President Jeon seized power by raising the military, but there were also indications that North Korean troops were involved, and it was an urgent situation where the military had to intervene. Someone had to step up to restore order, and that was the elite Jeon Du-hwan, a graduate of the Military Academy."

The Gukbon representative added, "The Moon Jae-in government's behavior of isolating and trampling the opposition just because they think differently, without following administrative procedures, is wrong."

A woman in her 60s, Ms. A, who was passing near the memorial altar, also pointed out that preventing the altar from being set up was an excessive measure. Ms. A said, "My husband is a retired soldier who worked for over 30 years. After listening to my husband and watching TV yesterday, I think there might be some unfair parts regarding Jeon Du-hwan. It has not yet been clearly proven that Jeon gave the order. As a military commander, if a rebellion breaks out, you have to respond and stop it. There were also talks that the North came down, so there might have been unavoidable circumstances."

She continued, "Regarding the shooting order, it was wrong not to control it, but seeing Jeon consistently claim for decades that he did not give the order that triggered the massacre, it seems he really did not. Jeon Du-hwan might feel unfair too."

A conservative group clearing away the remaining tent after dismantling the incense altar. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@

On the other hand, there were citizens strongly condemning Jeon in front of the dismantled memorial altar. Kim (59), who identified himself as a victim of the Samcheong Education Camp, expressed his anger, saying, "Did he only die now?" Kim said, "In the 1980s, I had a small fight in the neighborhood, and they said, 'Do you want to go to Samcheong Education Camp or go to prison?' and then took me to the camp. Originally, I was supposed to receive a 4-week re-education training, but Jeon was inaugurated as president and released after just 2 weeks as a special pardon."

He added, "At Samcheong Education Camp, they gathered us at 3 a.m. in underwear on the parade ground, beat us, and treated us like dogs and pigs. When I heard Jeon had died, I was so happy that I drank a congratulatory drink."

Kim also said, "I was lucky to return home safely, but my father, who was taken to Samcheong Education Camp, had a hole in his thigh. It rotted and became like that. He never apologized until he died, so what forgiveness is there?" Samcheong Education Camp was a 'shadow' representing Jeon's military dictatorship era and a place where innocent citizens suffered human rights violations. It was established within a military unit as part of a social purification policy immediately after the emergency martial law was declared on May 17, 1980. According to testimonies from victims taken to the camp, they were detained and mistreated for unreasonable reasons such as spitting on the street or growing their hair.

Mr. B, a self-employed person near Bosingak, also condemned Jeon for his unforgivable wrongdoings. Mr. B said, "Was it when Jeon just took power? Back then, tear gas rolling around this neighborhood was an everyday occurrence. If Seoul was like that, imagine how Gwangju was. I don't know about future generations, but our generation cannot forgive Jeon Du-hwan."

Jeon Du-hwan, then Chief of the Martial Law Command Joint Investigation Headquarters, is announcing the full details of the assassination of President Park Chung-hee on November 6, 1979, at the Army Officers' Club. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, visits to Jeon's funeral by political circles have been sparse. Since public opinion strongly holds Jeon responsible for the bloody suppression of the May 18 Democratization Movement, this appears to be a cautious move. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, previously stated that he would not pay respects. On the morning of the 23rd at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Lee said, "Jeon Du-hwan is clearly the main culprit of the rebellion and massacre, as confirmed. He killed at least hundreds of people and usurped state power for his personal desires. He never reflected or apologized to the people until his last moment," criticizing and expressing no intention to visit.

Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, initially said, "Shouldn't I go?" regarding paying respects but later decided not to visit. Lee Jun-seok, the People Power Party leader, also stated on social media, "I have no plans to visit former President Jeon Du-hwan's funeral separately," adding, "We will send a condolence wreath on behalf of the party."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.