S. Korea: Ex-leader denies charges in defamation case

By Zehra Ulucak

ANKARA (AA) - South Korea’s former president on Monday denied allegations against him in a defamation case over the 1980 pro-democracy demonstrations, local media reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, former President Chun Doo-hwan made a court appearance in the case over the alleged use of humiliating statements against the victims of 1980 crackdown during the pro-democracy demonstrations, after missing many hearings of the case.

The Gwangju District Court issued subpoenas against Chun, but he had not appeared in the court, citing health conditions.

On Monday’s appearance, Chun denied the prosecutor’s allegations, saying the memoirs of him were based on historical records and the prosecution's initial investigation reports, Yonhap reported.

Chun said that he did not have a reason to deliberately harm the reputation of Cho Chul-hyun, the activist priest who gave the testimony.

The former president, if convicted, could be sentenced up to two-years in prison or fined for 5 million won (some $4,400).

Ruling the country between 1980-1988, Chun called Cho "satan wearing a mask" and a “liar” denying his claims in his book published in early 2017.

Cho, among the key witnesses of 1980 crackdown, filed a lawsuit against Chun for disparaging the priest over his testimony on witnessing the military firing at citizens from helicopters during the suppression of the protests against Chun's rule.

In 2017, the Gwangju District Court banned the distribution of Chun’s book, citing “distorted accounts” of the 1980 Gwangju protests against the military junta.

General Chun came to power with a military coup, after the death of Park Chung-hee who ruled the country between 1960 to 1970.

Following the coup, the demand for democracy was interfered with a mass demonstration in Gwangju.

During the events, military helicopters conducted armed attacks -- killing more than 200 people and leaving 800 others injured.

Chun was convicted of treason and other crimes in 1996 and was forgiven in 1997.

In his 2017 memoirs, he refused the accusation against him over the ordering attacks.

*Writing by Dilara Hamit