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

By Zehra Ulucak</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The Gwangju District Court issued subpoenas against Chun, but he had not appeared in the court, citing health conditions. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The former president, if convicted, could be sentenced up to two-years in prison or fined for 5 million won (some $4,400).</p> <p>Ruling the country between 1980-1988, Chun called Cho &quot;satan wearing a mask&quot; and a “liar” denying his claims in his book published in early 2017.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>General Chun came to power with a military coup, after the death of Park Chung-hee who ruled the country between 1960 to 1970. </p> <p>Following the coup, the demand for democracy was interfered with a mass demonstration in Gwangju.</p> <p>During the events, military helicopters conducted armed attacks — killing more than 200 people and leaving 800 others injured. </p> <p>Chun was convicted of treason and other crimes in 1996 and was forgiven in 1997. </p> <p>In his 2017 memoirs, he refused the accusation against him over the ordering attacks.</p> <p>*Writing by Dilara Hamit