{
  "id": 7233772,
  "title": "Former defense minister convicted over Gwangju crackdown dies at 94",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/former-defense-minister-convicted-over-gwangju-crackdown-dies-at-94-7233772",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T03:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/people-events/20260914/former-defense-minister-convicted-over-gwangju-crackdown-dies-at-94"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former defense minister Chung Ho-yong, convicted for his role in the 1980 Gwangju crackdown, has passed away at the age of 94. The last surviving member of Korea's new military group, Chung played a key part in the military junta that seized power following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979. Alongside former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, Chung, Chun, and Roh formed the core of the group, with Chung also serving as the Army chief of staff and defense minister under Chun's Fifth Republic. After Kim Young-sam's administration took office, Chung's political fortunes declined. He was born in Daegu in 1932 and graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1943, alongside Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. His funeral altar has been erected at Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Former defense minister convicted over Gwangju crackdown dies at 94",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/former-defense-minister-convicted-over-gwangju-crackdown-dies-at-94",
        "published": "2026-09-14T03:12:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}