[86] August 27, 1996, Tuesday, BC cycle - United Press International

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Document 86

Copyright 1996 U.P.I.

United Press International

August 27, 1996, Tuesday, BC cycle

SECTION: International
LENGTH: 466 words
HEADLINE: S.Korea media mixed in trial response
BYLINE: BY JASON NEELY
DATELINE: SEOUL, Aug. 27
BODY:

South Korean newspapers on Tuesday criticized the trial of two former presidents for not punishing those responsible for a bloody 1980 massacre, while praising its treatment of a coup d'etat the same year. Former president Chun Doo-hwan, then an army major general, was sentenced to death Monday for his role in the crackdown and coup. Troops loyal to Chun opened fire on citizens in the southern city of Kwangju in 1980, killing an estimated 200 and wounding some 1,800. The Hankyoreh Shimmun newspaper commended the trial for deeming the Kwangju incident a mutiny, but called the trial ''incomplete'' for not charging those who fired the bullets. Only Chun, former Defense Minister Choo Yong-bok and former army chief of staff Lee Hui-sung were charged with homocide for Kwangju. At least two other leading dailies -- the Dong-a Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo -- also said Monday's three-judge panel failed to settle the Kwangju incident. Chun's main deputy, fellow general-turned president Roh Tae-woo, was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison. Both ex-presidents were charged with insurrection and treason, as well as bribery stemming from slush funds amassed during their presidencies. A telephone poll of 500 readers conducted by the Hankyoreh newspaper revealed 67.9 percent supported the death sentence, while just over 50 percent approved of Roh's sentence. Some 69.1 percent said they expected amnesty for both men. The conservative Chosun Ilbo daily said editorially that the prospect of appeals meant it was too early to definitely comment on the verdicts. The Chosun said Monday's trial was historically important, however, because it condemned a successful coup d'etat. Most South Korean dailies carried similar praise. ''The ideology that has governed Korean history was that of power. If you win you become king, if you lose, you become a criminal. With this result it is declared that even a successful coup d'etat can be a crime and shows a new political ideology for Korea,'' the newspaper commented. President Kim Young-sam, himself a former pro-democracy advocate imprisoned under Chun, said after coming to power in 1993 that history would judge the Kwangju incident. Despite constant calls for action and often violent protests, Kim maintained that Kwangju was best used as a tragic symbol of the democracy movement's struggle. Kim finally approved passage of a law late last year that reopened the Kwangju investigation, uncorking South Korea's ''trial of the century'' that heard sentencing Monday. In addition to Chun and Roh, 13 military and political co-defendants were sentenced for treason and insurrection, while 18 others received bribery sentences, including nine top business leaders.