Former defense minister convicted over Gwangju crackdown dies at 94
Chung Ho-yong, a former defense minister who was convicted for his role in the military crackdown on the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, died Sunday. He was 94. Chung was the last surviving member of the five figures considered the core of Korea's "new military group," which seized power following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979. His funeral altar has been set up at…
Chung Ho-yong, a former defense minister convicted for his role in the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement crackdown, passed away on Sunday at the age of 94. He was the last surviving member of the five key figures considered part of Korea's new military group that seized power following President Park Chung-hee's assassination in 1979.
Chung was born in Daegu in 1932 and graduated as part of the 11th class at the Korea Military Academy, alongside former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. The five central figures, including Chung, Chun, Roh, Army Chief of Staff Lee Hee-sung, and Army Vice Chief of Staff Hwang Young-si, played significant roles in the military coup led by Chun on December 12, 1979.
Chung later held powerful positions as Army chief of staff and defense minister under Chun's Fifth Republic before becoming a lawmaker. His political career took a downturn following the inauguration of the Kim Young-sam administration.
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- Former defense minister convicted over Gwangju crackdown dies at 94 koreatimes.co.kr
