Roh Taewoo - Definition and Overview

Roh Tae-woo (born December 4, 1942 in Daegu, South Korea), a Korean general and politician. He was the sixth president of South Korea (1988–1993). Roh was hand-picked by the ex-general Chun Doo-hwan to succeed him as president, triggering large pro-democracy rallies in Seoul and other cities in 1987. In response, Roh agreed to hold democratic presidential elections. Opposition supporters split their vote between two candidates—future presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung—enabling Roh to become the first democratically elected president after the end of military rule.

After taking office in 1993, Roh's successor Kim Young-sam led an anti-corruption campaign that put Roh and Chun on trial for bribery. The two former presidents were later separately charged with mutiny and treason for their roles in the 1979 coup and 1980 massacre of civilians in Kwangju.

Both were convicted in August 1996 of treason, mutiny and corruption; Chun was sentenced to death, later commuted to life in jail, while Roh's 22-1/2-year jail sentence was reduced to 17 years on appeal. Both were released from prison in early 1998.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics