Chun Doo-hwan

Chun Doo-hwan (born 18 January, 1931) was a Korean military officer and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. He established an authoritarian constitution. Sentenced to death in 1996, Chun was later given pardon by President Kim Dae Jung whom he himself sentenced to death some 20 years earlier.

Years in office

As president, Chun promoted strong centralized government, and the rapid economic growth of the Park Chung Hee era continued. Chun pledged that he would step down in 1988 instead of seeking another term as president. It soon became clear that Chun had hand-picked Roh Tae-woo to succeed him. By 1986, there was much public antipathy against Chun's regime due to the lack of political freedom and Chun's strongman tactics.

Related Topics:
Park Chung Hee - 1988 - 1986

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Ordinary citizens of South Korea's newly-prospering middle class joined in the nationwide, student-led June 1987 protests. In the same month, U.S. President Ronald Reagan sent a letter to Chun in support of the establishment of "democratic institutions." Following these events, on June 29th, Roh announced a programme of reform that made major concessions to the protesters. This included direct presidential elections, restoration of banned politicians including Kim Dae-jung, and other liberalizing measures. Chun accepted these reforms. This won Roh instant popularity, and helped by a divided opposition, he was elected as the next president of South Korea. It later became known that this was a move orchestrated by Chun.

Related Topics:
June - 1987 - Ronald Reagan - June 29

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