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Chun Woo-won, the grandson of Chun Doo-hwan, speaks to reporters upon his release for questioning by police over suspected drug use on March 29 in Seoul. (Yonhap)

Chun Woo-won, the 27-year-old grandson of the late Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan, was released Wednesday evening after being questioned by police over suspected drug use. Immediately upon his release, Chun headed to Gwangju to meet the bereaved families and victims of the bloody massacre orchestrated by his grandfather in the city in May of 1980.

At around 8 pm on Wednesday, the younger Chun was released from police custody after being questioned by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s narcotics investigation unit.

His release came 38 hours after he landed at Incheon International Airport at 6 am the previous day and was arrested on-site for suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act.

The police arrested Chun based on posts he made on social media explicitly stating he had taken drugs before as well as his apparent use of illicit substances while conducting a live stream of himself on YouTube. The police did not apply for an arrest warrant considering that Chun admitted to the charges and returned to Korea voluntarily.

Upon his release from questioning, Chun told reporters, “I revealed all the types of drugs I had taken, such as cannabis and DMT [dimenthyltryptamine],” while being questioned.

Regarding the results of the drug test, however, Chun said that the results had been negative, adding, “We’ll have to wait a bit longer to do a more detailed test.”

Chun also said that he had not contacted his father or other family members and had no plans to meet them for the time being.

Chun Woo-won, the grandson of Chun Doo-hwan, shakes hands with Jeon Tae-sam, the brother of labor martyr Jeon Tae-il. To their right, the president of the May 18 Memorial Injured’s Seoul branch applauds Chun. (Yonhap)

Chun told reporters he had gone public with suspicions about the Chun family’s slush funds and other allegations “because I thought that good people I met in church groups while doing volunteer work could become victims as well.”

When asked about the possibility of revealing additional information about his family’s slush funds, Chun said his family “must cooperate” in order to uncover new leads, but that he believed the possibility of that was “very low.”

As such, Chun said, “Since they will try to hide their sins as much possible, I plan to at least go instead [to Gwangju] and apologize myself. Citizens of Gwangju, I thank you for accepting a sinner like me.”

After being released, Chun exchanged greetings on-site with officials from the May 18 Democratization Movement Merit Association and the May 18 Memorial Injured as well as Jeon Tae-sam, the younger brother of the late labor rights activist Jeon Tae-il.

Lee Nam, head of the May 18 Memorial Injured’s Seoul branch, told Chun that “The May 18 victims highly value courage. On behalf of the injured and bereaved families, I heartily welcome you.”

Lee asked Chun to “please make a dignified and sincere apology to the souls of the May 18 [massacre] and endeavor to uncover the truth about May 18 and restore the spirit of the May 18 movement.” Those affiliated with May 18 organizations also applauded Chun.

While holding his hand, Jeon Tae-sam told Chun that he was “eagerly awaiting” Chun giving a sincere apology while confessing and repenting for the mistakes made by his family. “Mr. Chun says that he will fix these wrongs, and I want to encourage him to do so,” Jeon said.

“I will support and be in this with you together, so please take the time to promise to set history right to ensure such things do not happen again,” Jeon told Chun.

Chun voiced a desire to “keep in touch with the bereaved families until their hearts feel relief,” adding that “when you accept me reaching out, I will gratefully think of it as a blessing and go and meet you.”

After answering questions from reporters, Chun left for Gwangju with the production team of “Curious Stories Y,” a news program on broadcaster SBS, with whom he had agreed in advance to drive to Gwangju.

Since March 14, Chun has been using Instagram and YouTube to reveal his family’s luxurious lifestyles funded by secret assets while also exposing their criminal activities. He revealed the identities of his acquaintances who he alleged used illegal drugs and solicited prostitution. The police are reportedly investigating two people for illegal drug use in Korea related to Chun’s claims.

By Lee Woo-yun, staff reporter

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