hankyoreh

while saying

By Jin Myeong-sun, staff reporter

It recently came to light that former president Chun Doo-hwan had requested and received a diplomatic passport from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), and then used it to travel overseas.

According to a report presented to Rep. Hong Ik-pyo of the Democratic United Party (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee) by MOFAT on Oct. 23, the former president has been issued four diplomatic passports, each valid for five years. Chun received his first diplomatic passport in February 1988, and his most recent on Sept. 18.

Article 10 of the enforcement degree of the Passport Act stipulates that former presidents are able to receive a diplomatic passport if they apply. The bearer of a diplomatic passport has the privilege of diplomatic immunity, meaning exemption from arrest or detention while overseas. He or she may also use separate gates at entry and departure.

Rep. Hong said, “Only counting the trips reported by the media, since 2000, former President Chun has made seven trips to foreign countries including the U.S., Japan, and China.”

Hong said, “I cannot help but see these requests for a diplomatic passport, even when there are no limitations on entry and departure with a civilian passport, as an intention to secure special privileges during overseas travel.” He criticized, “It is thoughtless for MOFAT to issue a diplomatic passport to a former president whose travel privileges should be restricted because he is yet to pay off more than 20 million won (US$18,100) in compensation and fines. He should be banned from leaving the country altogether.” According to the Immigration Control Act, anyone with a debt to the state of more than 20 million won should be prohibited from traveling overseas.

Chun still has 167.3 billion won unpaid from the 220.5 billion won in restitution he was sentenced to pay by the Supreme Court in 1997. He was notoriously nicknamed by Internet users “the 290,000 won president” because he reportedly said, “My entire assets amount to only 290,000 won,” at a trial concerning the restitution held in 2003.

Internet users have been criticizing Chun for enjoying privileges without having paid off his debt to the state. One Twitter user commented, “He must have unlimited refills on that 290,000 won,” while another Twitter user criticized the government by writing, “It is wrong to ask the common people to obey the law in this kind of country.”

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]