Ruling Party Gwangju Area Lawmakers Oppose State Funeral Honors and National Cemetery Burial for Roh Tae-woo

Former President Roh Tae-woo passed away at the age of 89. On the 27th, mourners paid their respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital, where the funeral was held. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Members of the Democratic Party of Korea from the Gwangju region (Min Hyung-bae, Song Gap-seok, Yoon Young-duk, Lee Byung-hoon, Lee Yong-bin, Lee Hyung-seok, Jo Oh-seop) opposed the state funeral honors and burial in the National Cemetery for the late former President Roh Tae-woo on the 27th.

In a statement released that afternoon, they said, "As one of the responsible figures who brutally suppressed the May 18 Democratic Uprising with guns and swords, and with the historical judgment not yet concluded, we cannot accept state funeral honors solely because he was a former president."

They continued, "Roh Tae-woo was the second-in-command of the new military regime that seized power through the December 12 military coup alongside Chun Doo-hwan, and was one of those responsible for violently suppressing the May 18 Democratic Uprising," adding, "Together with Chun Doo-hwan, he is nothing more than a major criminal guilty of rebellion, treason, and murder for the purpose of rebellion."

They also stated, "The direct presidential election system, created through the devoted blood of the people and democratic martyrs, is being distorted as if it were a benevolence from Roh Tae-woo," and raised their voices, saying, "In front of the graves of the young national democratic martyrs who sacrificed their youth and lives for democracy, a state funeral for Roh Tae-woo is nothing but a luxury."

Furthermore, they emphasized, "If the person responsible for the massacre, who has shown no sincere apology or repentance to Gwangju and the people, is given a state funeral, future generations will not be able to speak of democracy and justice in the Republic of Korea," and stressed, "We oppose the state funeral for Roh Tae-woo, whose historical judgment has not yet been concluded."