"5·18 Truth Still Unrevealed"…Various Gwangju Circles Mourn and Feel Mixed Emotions Over No Tae-woo's Passing

Former President Roh Tae-woo, who served as the 13th President of the Republic of Korea, passed away on the 26th. The photo shows General Roh Tae-woo's retirement ceremony as Commander of the Defense Security Command in 1981. [Yonhap News archive photo]

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Former President Roh Tae-woo, the 13th president of the Republic of Korea, passed away at the age of 89.

With the death of former President Roh, who failed to reveal the truth about the May 18 Democratic Movement, various sectors in the Gwangju region expressed condolences for the deceased but also sternly questioned him as an important figure who should have uncovered the truth but did not fulfill his historical responsibility.

Former President Roh was the first president elected by direct vote after the June Democratic Uprising in 1987. Along with Chun Doo-hwan, he led the December 12 military coup and established the Fifth Republic.

On December 12, 1979, he was a core member of the new military group ‘Hanahoe’ centered around former President Chun Doo-hwan, a classmate from the 11th class of the Korea Military Academy.

After the coup succeeded, he quickly rose to the position of second-in-command, serving as the Capital Security Commander and the Security Command Commander, then retired as a general and entered politics as the Minister of Political Affairs 2.

Following the constitutional amendment to direct presidential elections due to the June Democratic Uprising in 1987, he won the presidential election at the end of the year, defeating candidates Kim Dae-jung, Kim Young-sam, and Kim Jong-pil.

After leaving office, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison and fined over 260 billion won for charges including leading the December 12 coup, the violent suppression of the May 18 Democratic Movement, and the creation of slush funds worth thousands of billions of won.

He was released in December 1997 by a special pardon from President Kim Young-sam.

He had been bedridden for a long time due to chronic illness and was recently hospitalized at Seoul National University Hospital due to worsening symptoms, receiving intensive care from medical staff, but ultimately did not recover and passed away around 1:40 p.m. on this day.

Former President Roh was known as the so-called ‘key’ who could reveal the truth about the May 18 Democratic Movement.

This was because he showed a somewhat different stance from Chun Doo-hwan, who consistently denied responsibility. Shortly after his inauguration, Roh’s wife, Kim Ok-sook, laid flowers and paid respects at the grave of martyr Lee Han-yeol in the Mangwol-dong cemetery in Gwangju.

Also, his son Jaeheon was the first direct family member of the new military leadership to visit the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in 2019, where he paid respects and expressed an apology.

At that time, Jaeheon said, “I came on behalf of my father, who is unable to move properly,” and “My father repeatedly said that he must visit the May 18 cemetery.”

Although some voices claimed that Jaeheon’s visit to the May 18 cemetery was a kind of ‘political show,’ May 18 organizations and Gwangju citizens hoped that former President Roh would come forward to reveal the truth.

However, with the passing of former President Roh, various sectors expressed regret but could not hide their mixed feelings as a key figure who could have revealed the truth has left.

Gwangju citizen Kim (64) said, “Seeing former President Roh’s son kneel and apologize at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery, I thought that if former President Roh’s health improved, he might speak the truth himself,” adding, “But whether intentional or not, it is very regrettable that it did not happen.”

He continued, “Perhaps the family of former President Roh has heard the truth about May 18,” and emphasized, “I hope at least the family will reveal the truth.”

In the political sphere, voices opposing a state funeral and burial in the National Cemetery for former President Roh have been raised.

National Assembly members Jo Oh-seop and Yoon Young-duk held an emergency press conference on the day, expressing deep condolences for Roh Tae-woo’s death but argued, “As one of the perpetrators of the massacre, with historical judgment not yet concluded, he should not be honored with a state funeral or buried in the National Cemetery simply because he was a former president.”

They explained, “The State Funeral Act aims to conduct funerals solemnly and reverently for those who have left remarkable merits to the nation or society and are revered by the people, thereby contributing to national unity,” and “The National Cemetery Act also aims to enshrine and honor those who sacrificed and contributed to the nation or society, commemorating their loyalty and heroic spirit.”

They added, “If a usurper and perpetrator of massacre who has not sincerely apologized and repented before Gwangju and the people is given a state funeral and buried in the National Cemetery, it would be impossible to talk about democracy and justice in the Republic of Korea to future generations,” emphasizing, “The people have not forgiven, and historical judgment is not complete, so there can be no state funeral or burial in the National Cemetery.”

The May 18 organizations also issued a statement with the same position.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the three May 18 organizations (Democratic Patriots’ Families Association, Democratic Movement Injured Association, and Detained Injured Association) released a statement opposing former President Roh’s burial in the National Cemetery and urging thorough investigation of the truth.

A representative of the May 18 organizations said, “The final May 18 truth investigation is underway, but it is regrettable that Roh Tae-woo, one of the key figures of the new military regime, has passed away like this,” adding, “I worry that as one by one disappear, the truth may be buried forever.”