Jeon Du-hwan's Grandson to Return on 28th "Will Apologize"
The Jeon Du-hwan Family Had No Apologies Until Now... Will This Be the First?
No Tae-woo's Eldest Son No Jae-heon Offers a 'Kneeling Apology'
Jeon Woo-won, a member of the family of former President Jeon Du-hwan who gained attention for exposing the family's corruption, will return to Korea in the early morning of the 28th. His first destination after returning will be Gwangju. Jeon, who has repeatedly apologized for the victims of the May 18 Democratic Movement while labeling former President Jeon Du-hwan as a 'mass murderer,' announced plans to personally apologize to the bereaved families of the May 18 victims. If a meeting between Jeon and the May 18 organizations is arranged, it will be the first apology from the Jeon Du-hwan family.
Former President Jeon Du-hwan, who was indicted on charges of defamation of the late, is leaving his residence in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to attend a trial held at the Gwangju District Court on March 11, 2019, together with his spouse Lee Soon-ja. Photo by Yonhap News
Jeon announced through his social media (SNS) that he departed from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York, USA, at 12:50 a.m. on the 27th and will arrive at Incheon International Airport at 5:20 a.m. on the 28th.
He said, "I have no idea whether I will go to prison or what will happen when I go to Korea," but added, "First, if I enter Korea and am not immediately detained by government agencies, I want to unpack my luggage and visit the May 18 Memorial Cultural Center to apologize to the bereaved families and all those who suffered mental damage from this incident."
The Jeon Du-hwan family has never publicly apologized for the Gwangju massacre that occurred during the May 18 Democratic Movement. Previously, on September 10, 2013, Jeon Jae-guk, the eldest son of former President Jeon Du-hwan, made a public apology regarding the recovery of unpaid fines but excluded any apology related to May 18. At that time, under intense pressure from the prosecution over unpaid fines, Jeon Jae-guk bowed his head and said, "I sincerely apologize to the people for causing concern," but his message was limited to cooperating with the recovery of unpaid fines.
The bereaved families were also offended by the attitude of not acknowledging the former president's faults. Lee Soon-ja, the spouse of former President Jeon Du-hwan, expressed grievances in her 2017 book "You Are Not Alone," stating, "I shuddered several times at the paranoid misunderstandings and politically motivated historical distortions regarding December 12, May 17, and May 18," and claimed, "My husband and I are also victims."
Former President Jeon Du-hwan, identified as the main culprit of the Gwangju massacre, never apologized until his death. Rather than showing remorse, he distorted and belittled the May 18 Democratic Movement in his memoirs by denying North Korean involvement and the martial law troops' helicopter shootings, which led to him being prosecuted.
As a result, criticism from May 18 organizations continued even after his death. On November 23, 2021, shortly after his death, the May 18 Memorial Foundation and the three May organizations (Bereaved Families Association, Injured Association, and Detained Injured Association) held an emergency press conference, stating, "Jeon consistently denied any connection to May 18 with pathetic excuses and evasion of responsibility," and criticized him, saying, "Through continuous lies and distortions, he deceived the public and judiciary, insulted and belittled the spirits of May 18, and lived a disgusting life without remorse or apology."
No Jae-heon, the eldest son of former President Roh Tae-woo, kneeling at the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery. Photo provided by National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, Yonhap News Agency
Unlike the Jeon Du-hwan family, the No Tae-woo family, also considered another main culprit of the Gwangju massacre, has expressed apologies to the victims of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement. On August 23, 2019, No Jae-heon, the eldest son, visited Gwangju and knelt down to apologize.
Since then, No has visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju several times to apologize for his father's faults. In a 2020 interview with a media outlet, No emphasized the sincerity of his apology, saying, "I will kneel until the victims and bereaved families say 'enough,' and I have not the slightest intention of entering politics." No So-young, the eldest daughter, showed acts of repentance by visiting Gwangju and donating to Jeonnam National University Hospital in December 2019, though she did not make a formal apology.
Former President No Tae-woo himself did not directly apologize for the May 18 Democratic Movement during his lifetime but left a will asking for forgiveness. According to the will made public by his family, No Tae-woo said, "Especially regarding the painful parts of the May 18 victims and the various events that occurred during my subsequent term, if there were any responsibilities or faults on my part, I hope for generous forgiveness."
Meanwhile, Jeon caused controversy on the 17th by reportedly consuming a large amount of a substance suspected to be drugs during a YouTube live broadcast. The police are conducting a pre-investigation regarding Jeon's drug use but are not planning to immediately investigate or detain him.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
