"Cannot Tolerate Jeon Du-hwan Who Massacred the People"…Paju Mayor Also Opposes Burial of Remains

"Place Where North Korea Is Visible" Seems to Be Chosen Following Last Will in Paju
Remains Stored at Seoul Yeonhui-dong Residence for 2 Years

The remains of former President Jeon Du-hwan have not found a burial site for two years. Paju City in Gyeonggi Province, where the former president's remains were expected to be interred, has taken a firm stance against it, with the mayor personally opposing the plan.

The remains of the former president, who passed away on November 23, 2021, are currently being temporarily stored at his residence in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, as no burial site has been secured. Due to his convictions for military rebellion and treason, he is ineligible for burial in a national cemetery.

The location currently considered for burial is Paju City in Gyeonggi Province. In his memoirs, the former president expressed a wish to "remain as bare bones on a forward hill overlooking the northern land and ultimately witness the day of reunification." A certain place in Jangsan-ri, Munsan-eup, Paju City, is known to be close to the Demilitarized Zone and offers distant views of Kaesong and other parts of North Korea.

On November 6, 1979, Chun Doo-hwan, then Chief of the Martial Law Joint Investigation Headquarters, is making an announcement related to the death of former President Park Chung-hee. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 1st, Kim Kyung-il, mayor of Paju City, stated on social media (SNS), "There is a movement to inter the remains of Jeon Du-hwan, who crushed the spring of democracy in South Korea through the December 12 military coup and the May 18 Gwangju massacre and killed citizens, in Paju." He added, "Personally and as a politician, I am firmly opposed to the burial of Jeon Du-hwan's remains in Paju."

Mayor Kim emphasized, "As a mayor who represents the will of the citizens and as a citizen who protects democracy in this country, I cannot tolerate the remains of a person who undermined democracy and took countless lives coming to Paju City."

According to Mayor Kim, there have been no inquiries or administrative procedures regarding land use in Paju City so far. He stated, "We will continuously monitor the situation, share all processes with the citizens, and take strict measures. As always, the will of the citizens is paramount. I will listen carefully to the voices of citizens opposing the burial of Jeon Du-hwan's remains in Paju."

The political sphere is also voicing opposition to the burial. On the same day, 11 members including Yoon Hu-duk and Park Jung, Democratic Party members representing Paju City, seven Paju City councilors from the same party, and two Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members held a press conference, criticizing, "Jeon Du-hwan claimed his total assets were 290,000 won while playing golf, and never paid the 102 billion won in fines and 3 billion won in back taxes. The burial site reportedly covers 1,700 pyeong with land value alone at 510 million won. Which citizen could accept this?"