"How Many Died in 5.18?"... Jeon Du-hwan's Grandson Jeon Woo-won Releases Webtoon

Webtoon Released via Instagram
Covers His Life from Childhood to Return to Korea

Jeon Woo-won, grandson of former President Jeon Du-hwan, has released a webtoon based on his childhood. The webtoon depicts Jeon's revelation in 2023 of a massive slush fund hidden in the family safe at their Yeonhui-dong residence in Seoul, as well as the shock he experienced after learning in detail about the horrors of the Gwangju 5·18 Democratization Movement.

A webtoon drawn by Jeon Woo-won, grandson of former President Jeon Du-hwan. Jeon Woo-won Instagram

On January 13, Jeon published the webtoon on his Instagram account. The main character, "Monggeuli," is a self-portrait of Jeon. Former President Jeon Du-hwan, Jeon's father Jeon Jae-yong, and other family members are depicted as sheep with black horns.

In the early part of the webtoon, Jeon illustrates his time studying abroad in the United States and episodes of delinquency during his school years. Scenes include Jeon and his mother suffering and seemingly being abused, as well as a moment when former President Jeon Du-hwan, afflicted with dementia, becomes angry because he cannot remember a conversation he just had with Jeon.

Jeon also describes in the webtoon how he first encountered drugs in the United States. He began using them to treat depression, but became addicted and subsequently experienced hallucinations. In the middle of the webtoon, Monggeuli visits a priest at a cathedral and confesses, "My grandfather killed many people in Gwangju, and now it feels like ghosts are chasing me because of it."

A webtoon drawn by Jeon Woo-won, grandson of former President Jeon Du-hwan. Jeon Woo-won Instagram

Jeon also shares the shock he felt after learning in detail about the Gwangju 5·18 Democratization Movement. In the webtoon, Monggeuli begins searching for information about the 5·18 Movement online and is overwhelmed by thoughts such as, "Could it really have been this brutal?" "I used to dismiss it, thinking, 'Surely not my family...,'" and "The number of deaths, missing persons, torture during the 5·18 Democratization Movement... How many people actually died? What does that make my family?"

Afterward, Monggeuli appears on a live broadcast, apologizing by saying, "My grandfather is a murderer. Countless innocent people suffered. I am truly sorry." He goes on to expose suspicions of the Jeon family’s "black money" and even confesses to his own drug use. The first part of the webtoon ends with Monggeuli being arrested at Incheon International Airport upon returning to Korea.

A webtoon drawn by Jeon Woo-won, grandson of former President Jeon Du-hwan. Jeon Woo-won Instagram