S. Korea Officials Fired in Student Death
President Chun Doo Hwan fired his home minister and the head of the National Police today as a result of the torture death of a student activist while in police custody, Chun’s office announced.
The 21-year-old victim, Park Jong Chuyl, a linguistics student at Seoul National University, died during questioning by police in Seoul last Wednesday.
Two police investigators have been arrested on charges of torturing the student to death and a senior police officer was relieved of duty for failing to properly supervise his subordinates.
A police announcement said Park, who had been accused of taking part in anti-government activities, died from having his throat pressed against the edge of a bathtub while his head was being plunged into water during questioning.
Disclosure of his death touched off an uproar, including demands by the major opposition party, the New Korea Democratic Party, for the firing of the two officials.
At Seoul National University, about 800 students held a memorial service for Park today and staged a peaceful, silent march on the campus. An estimated 1,000 riot police stood by, but no clashes were reported.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
