Rule the country with an iron fist and suppress political opposition

Former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan dies

Korea experienced an economic renaissance during the Chun era.

AFP

Former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who ruled the country with an iron fist and suppressed political opposition, died yesterday at the age of 90.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the former general died at his home in Seoul.

The Chun Doo-hwan regime oversaw the strong economic growth of South Korea, and won the honor of organizing the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

He was the first South Korean president to hand over power in a peaceful manner.

Chun came to power in a military coup in 1979, the year President Park Chung-hee was assassinated.

He ran the country with an iron fist between 1980 and 1988, violently suppressing any political opposition.

He is still one of the most hated figures in South Korea.

He is known as the "Butcher of Gwangju", after he ordered his forces to suppress an uprising against him in this city, located in the southwest of the country, by force.

The official number of victims and missing persons of the Gwangju events reached 200 people.

He was convicted in 1996 of treason, and was sentenced to death in part in connection with the Gwangju events, but the sentence was reduced on appeal and he was released under a presidential pardon.

• Dean Chun in 1996 for treason, and was sentenced to death, in the context of the Gwangju events, in part, but the sentence was reduced on appeal and released under a presidential pardon.

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