| Chun Woo-won observes a moment of silence for the victims of the Gwangju Uprising during his meeting with victims' families in Gwangju. March 31. Yonhap |
A grandson of late former President Chun Doo-hwan on Friday apologized for the bloody crackdown in 1980 that his grandfather carried out to quell a pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju.
"My grandfather, Chun Doo-hwan, is a sinner who committed a huge crime," Chun Woo-won told reporters following a meeting with the victims and their family members in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul.
Chun, 27, has attracted widespread media attention after making a series of public accusations about irregularities and slush funds involving his family members on social media.
"Not only my family but I too am an ugly sinner," the younger Chun said, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to apologize to Gwangju citizens who, he said, have welcomed him warmly.
Chun Woo-won, who is based in New York and is the son of Chun's second son, Jae-yong, was released Wednesday after being arrested upon arriving in the country due to an investigation regarding suspected illegal drug use.
Chun Doo-hwan, who served as president from 1980-1988 after seizing power in the 1979 military coup, is widely criticized for ordering troops to use force to quash the pro-democracy uprising that left hundreds of people dead.
Chun, who never apologized for his actions in Gwangju, died in 2021. (Yonhap)