hankyoreh

Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo-hwan await sentencing on Aug. 26, 1996, on counts of mutiny and treason for the Dec. 12 military coup. (Hankyoreh file photo)

At a time when a film depicting the 1979 military coup led by Chun Doo-hwan continues to draw Koreans to box offices, a plan to bury the remains of Chun, who died in 2021, in a city north of Seoul has local residents, including the mayor, up in arms.

On Friday, Paju Mayor Kim Gyeong-il wrote on his Facebook page, “There is an attempt being made to bury the remains of Chun Doo-hwan, a slaughterer of Koreans who trampled on the Seoul Spring of democratization with his military coup and massacre in Gwangju, in Paju.”

“Personally and politically, I vehemently oppose the burial of Chun’s remains in Paju soil,” he added.

“So far, there have been no inquiries about acquiring land for burial purposes, and no administrative processes have begun, but we will continue to survey the situation and move to thoroughly restrict any burial efforts for Chun,” the mayor went on.

Chun died on Nov. 23, 2021, after slipping and falling in the bathroom of his residence in Seoul’s Yeonhui neighborhood. His remains are being temporarily preserved at the residence. In his memoirs, Chun wrote, ”I’d like my remains to be buried on high ground facing the North, so that my remains can await the day of Korea’s reunification.” Chun’s family has reportedly signed a tentative contract to acquire land in Jangsan, a rural village in Paju.

Members of 11 civic organizations, including the Paju chapter of Kyoreh Hana and the Goyang/Paju branch of the Center for Historical Truth and Justice, and the DMZ Ecology Research Institute, hold a press conference on Nov. 30 outside Paju City Hall to oppose the burial of Chun Doo-hwan’s remains in the city. (Yonhap)

Upon hearing the news, a coalition of 11 activist groups gathered in front of Paju City Hall on Thursday to hold a press conference. The coalition declared it would “do what it takes to prevent the burial of the remains of Chun the butcher.”

“Jangsan is a prime spot that overlooks the Imjin River and the North Korean city of Kaesong. The village is special to Paju residents, as it symbolizes efforts toward peace, reconciliation and reunification,” the coalition declared.

“Such a special place cannot be where the remains of Chun Doo-hwan, military insurgent, butcher of Gwangju demonstrators, dictator and suppressor of democracy are laid to rest. There is no place in Paju where Chun can be laid to rest. Nowhere.”

A banner hangs in Jangsan, a rural village of the Gyeonggi Province city of Paju, on Nov. 21 opposing the burial of Chun Doo-hwan’s remains there. (Yonhap)

Residents have even put up a banner in the spot in Jangsan that’s been selected for Chun’s burial. The banner reads, “We vehemently oppose Chun’s burial in Jangsan!”

Other politicians have spoken up about Chun’s potential burial site. Democratic Party lawmakers Yoon Hu-duk and Park Jeung, who represent Paju in the National Assembly, joined seven Paju City Council members and two Gyeonggi Province Assembly members to hold a press conference at the National Assembly press center in Seoul. “We will use all available means to prevent Chun’s burial in Paju,” they declared.

“Chun claimed that he only had 290,000 won in assets (US$221) while going around playing golf. He left 102 billion won (US$77.8 million) in unpaid fines and 3 billion won (US$2.29 million) in unpaid taxes. The plot of land selected for his burial is 510 million won (US$388,937) for 5,600 square meters. How could any citizen of Korea accept this farce?” the elected representatives declared.

National Assembly members Yoon Hu-duk and Park Jeung, who represent Paju, and member of the Paju City Council hold a press conference at the National Assembly’s press center on Dec. 1 where they condemn the attempt to lay Chun Doo-hwan’s remains to rest in their city. (courtesy of Park Jeung’s Naver blog)

Regarding the passage in Chun’s memoir about wanting “to be buried on high ground facing the North, so that my remains can await the day of Korea’s reunification,” the politicians said, “There was never a time in Chun’s career when he was not hostile toward North Korea. How can we believe that a military dictator who usurped his way into power with tanks and armored vehicles dreamt of reunification?”

“Even the birds who migrate across the 38th Parallel would have a good laugh if they heard that,” they said.

Meanwhile, “12.12: The Day,” a film that dramatizes the 1979 military coup by Chun garnered over 1 million moviegoers on the fourth day of his release, 2 million on the sixth, and 3 million on the tenth. As of 12 am on Sunday, the film had sold over 4 million tickets.

By Lee Yu-jin, staff reporter

Main cast and crew of “12.12: The Day” celebrate surpassing 4 million tickets sold as of Dec. 3, 12 days after the film’s release. (from @plusm_entertainment on Instagram)

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