Unrepentant Ex-President Angers Korea Lawmakers

Former South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan, called from exile in a remote Buddhist monastery to publicly repent abuses during his rule, enraged members of Parliament on Sunday by denying the charges against him.

One opposition lawmaker raced to the podium where the disgraced former leader was addressing Parliament and shouted, “Murderer!” Another hurled a wooden nameplate at him, narrowly missing the ex-president. The melee forced a four-hour adjournment.

“I felt heartbroken that I could not finish my testimony, but I will tell my account of the truth in other ways,” Chun told reporters before departing.

He returned to the Buddhist temple where he has lived in self-imposed exile since leaving office in 1988. Aides said he would not come back to testify.

During the hearings, broadcast on nationwide radio and television, Chun refused to make an outright apology, as opposition parties have demanded, but said he would take “moral responsibility” for wrongdoings under his rule.

He has denied any personal corruption, but 48 of his relatives and associates have been convicted of embezzlement and other crimes.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Chun said.

“It’s a lie! It’s a lie!” one opposition lawmaker shouted as Chun denied almost all charges of corruption, power abuse and misdeeds.

Chun’s testimony before about 200 lawmakers and spectators was aimed at bringing calm to South Korean politics, which have been dogged by public demands to reveal the truth behind allegations against his government.

President Roh Tae Woo, Chun’s successor and former associate, appealed to South Koreans in a New Year’s message Sunday “to put an end to past affairs once the past president apologizes for wrongdoings.”

Chun’s testimony, which lasted more than 12 hours, was interrupted repeatedly by shouting matches that forced adjournments and a virtual free-for-all involving about two dozen legislators.

The melee erupted after opposition legislators angrily accused Chun of lying about his involvement in the crushing of a 1980 civil uprising in the city of Kwangju. By official count, 193 people died in the uprising, which was suppressed by the military. Chun was a top military general at the time and became president the same year with military backing.

Opposition and government party lawmakers shouted, jeered and shoved each other in a melee that adjourned the session for almost four hours.

Chun, reading from a prepared statement, denied he played any role in the military suppression of the uprising. He said, however, that troops on the scene had a standing order to open fire if a war situation occurred.

Chun was criticized by the public and politicians for what they called insincere testimony. Many accused him of perjury.

Newspapers and television stations were flooded with thousands of telephone calls protesting Chun’s attitude.