[Editorial]Decision on “National funeral of former President Roh Tae-woo” is incorrect: Editorial / Column: hankyoreh japan

The government has decided to hold the funeral of former President Roh Tae-woo as a “national funeral.” I have to express my regret that the government gave the highest courtesy of national funerals, despite committing an unforgivable crime that killed innocent people to take power. I can’t.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-gyom said in a cabinet meeting on the 27th, “The deceased was in office as the 13th president and made many achievements in the development of the nation.” We will praise our achievements and make every effort to provide courtesy. ” In addition, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, “Although former President Roh has historical mistakes related to the 12/12 situation and the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement, he has contributed to the northern policy since he was elected through the direct election system. However, efforts such as paying a surcharge after the sentence was sentenced were taken into consideration. “

It is true that former President Roh made great achievements in northern diplomacy and North-South relations during his tenure. He made remarkable achievements such as normalizing diplomatic relations with communist countries such as the Soviet Union and China, concluding the North-South Basic Agreement in 1991, and joining the United Nations at the same time. However, he considers the national funeral decision to be false in that the crimes he has committed are too heavy to be filled with such achievements. Former President Roh is an accomplice who has violated South Korea’s constitutional order by leading the 12/12 military rebellion with former President Chun Doo-hwan as the center of the “new military”. He was also deeply involved in the expansion of the May 17 martial law and the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, which trampled on the people’s wishes for democracy. In 1997, the Supreme Court sentenced all former presidents to life imprisonment and former president Roh to 17 years in prison on charges of military rebellion and civil war. The evaluation has been confirmed both legally and historically. He said he left a will through his son, “I hope for deep forgiveness for mistakes,” but he did not directly apologize to the victims and bereaved families of May 18 and did not ask for forgiveness.

Article 2 of the National Funeral Law stipulates that former and incumbent presidents should be subject to national funerals. If so, the funeral will be carried out with respect and solemnity to contribute to national unity. ” How many people think that this national funeral decision fits the purpose of the law? Immediately, Gwangju City decided not to set up an incense shop and raise a mourning flag as described in the National Funeral Law.

It seems that the government decided to bury the state in consideration of some feelings and claims of the conservatives ahead of the presidential election, but it may remain as a false precedent that disturbs the historical consciousness that Korean society has struggled to establish. Is high. Taking this opportunity, the standards for national funerals must be clarified by law. According to the National Cemetery Law, if a prison sentence of imprisonment or more is confirmed due to civil war or treason in Japan, or if a prison sentence of one year or more is confirmed due to loss of the national treasury, burial at the Seoul National Cemetery is not possible. .. National burials also need to be amended to meet the standards for burial in national graveyards. I hope that the Diet will actively take part in gathering the opinions of the people.

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