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Former President Chun Doo-hwan heads to the Gwangju District Court on Apr. 27. (Yonhap News)

Former President Chun Doo-hwan, 89, appeared in a Gwangju court on Apr. 27 after being indicted on charges of defamation of the deceased for calling the late Catholic priest Cho Pius a “shameless liar,” referring to Cho Pius’ accounts of martial law troops firing civilians from helicopters during the Gwangju Democratization Movement, which marks its 40th anniversary this year. It was Chun’s first appearance in court since May of last year. While entering the courtroom, Chun declined to respond to questions about whether he planned to apologize to the victims. He also nodded off during the subsequent proceedings, but was vehement in his denials of the charges against him.

“There was no fire from helicopters [during the events of May 18],” he insisted.

Chun arrived at around 12:20 pm at Gwangju District Court to attend the hearing under chief judge Hon. Kim Jeong-hoon of the 8th criminal division in criminal courtroom No. 201 of Gwangju District at 2:00 that afternoon. Chun was wearing a face mask as he stepped out of his vehicle and immediately proceeded into the courthouse. His wife Lee Soon-ja accompanied him into the courtroom as a “confidential relation.” Chun was questioned by reporters over why he “refuse[s] to take responsibility when so many people died,” but continued on his way without offering any response.

Entering the courtroom to go through defendant confirmation procedures a second time following the change in judges, Chun was asked by Kim to confirm his name, date of birth, and place of residence. Equipped with a hearing aid, Chun shook his head to the judge when asked if he could hear clearly. When asked about his date of birth and profession, he claimed to be unable to hear and responded only after hearing an explanation from his wife.

Chun nodded off during the trial, but when asked by the judge whether he “acknowledged the prosecution’s charges,” he opened his eyes and said, “As far as I am aware, there was no firing from helicopters at the time.”

“If there he had been firing from helicopters, many lives would have been lost. As sons of the Republic of Korea, I do not believe the first lieutenants and captains who served as helicopter marksmen engaged in such reckless firing from helicopters,” he insisted.

As Chun continued to deny the massacre in Gwangju throughout the hearing, one citizen was ejected from the courtroom after asking in protest, “Who killed the people of Gwangju, then?” As Chun was emerging from the courtroom after the hearing at around 5:40 pm, a Gwangju citizen hurled an egg at him and demanded that he apologize. Without giving a response, Chun entered his vehicle and quickly departed from Gwangju District Court.

While the hearing was taking place, members of the May Mothers’ Association stood outside the courthouse dressed in mourning clothes, singing the song “March for the Beloved” and demanding an apology. Members of May 18-related groups also staged a subdued protest rally, which included a performance in which a toy hammer was used to strike a statue of a kneeling Chun. The next hearing is scheduled for June 1.

By Kim Yong-hee, Gwangju correspondent

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