S. Korea’s Chun Picks Successor
President Chun Doo Hwan today chose Roh Tae Woo, once a classmate at the military academy and now head of the ruling political party, to be his successor when Chun’s term ends in February.
The nomination virtually guarantees election. Chun, who became president in 1980 following President Park Chung Hee’s assassination Oct. 26, 1979, has pledged to step down when his term ends. The revelation of his choice at a dinner with key officials of his Democratic Justice Party ended months of rumors and speculation about the succession.
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