Chung Ho-yong, former Defense Minister, dies without apologizing for Gwangju crackdown

Chung Ho-yong, the former Minister of National Defense and a key figure in the New Military Group, has died at the age of 94. As the last surviving member of the group's core five leaders, his death marks the end of an era for direct testimony regarding the 1979 military coup and the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Chung, who served as the Special Warfare Commander during the Gwangju uprising, was previously convicted in 1997 for his role in the military crackdown. While he consistently denied direct command responsibility, claiming his involvement was limited to administrative and logistical support, courts and investigators have maintained that he was part of the unofficial command chain used to suppress citizens.

Following his death, 5·18-related organizations and victim advocacy groups expressed deep regret. They noted that Chung passed away without ever offering a sincere apology to the victims or their families. The 5·18 Memorial Foundation stated that they will continue to pursue the truth to ensure that the responsibilities ignored by the New Military Group are formally recorded in history.