SEOUL—Former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan, who will mark the fourth anniversary of his death this November, may finally be laid to rest at his residence in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul. Sources close to the Chun family confirmed on September 14 that discussions are underway to permanently inter his ashes in the yard of his home.
Since his death, Chun’s remains have been temporarily kept in an urn at his Yeonhui-dong residence for nearly four years. Due to his conviction for treason and other crimes, he is ineligible for burial in a national cemetery. In an effort to honor his wish, as expressed in his memoir, "to remain as a skeleton on a forward outpost overlooking the North to greet the day of reunification," his family had initially sought a burial site near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
This plan was abandoned in 2023 after a preliminary land contract in Paju was met with strong local opposition, leading the landowner to withdraw from the agreement. With no alternative burial site secured, the Yeonhui-dong residence, a property with a strengthened claim of ownership by his family, has emerged as the new potential final resting place.
The government had previously filed a lawsuit in 2021 to seize the Yeonhui-dong home, alleging it was a shell corporation's asset. However, a district court dismissed the case in February, ruling that the claim for a forfeiture penalty was void upon Chun's death. The government has appealed the decision, with a second trial scheduled for November 20 at the Seoul High Court. Approximately 86 billion won of Chun's 220 billion won in outstanding forfeiture penalties remains uncollected.
Chun's widow, Lee Soon-ja, currently resides at the Yeonhui-dong home, which is under 24-hour protection by a dedicated police security detail. Former presidents and their families are entitled to security services from the Presidential Security Service for 10 years after their term ends, with a possible five-year extension. After that period, security is transferred to the national police.
According to data from the National Police Agency obtained by Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Bu-nam's office, the budget for the dedicated security team last year was 22.45 million won. This budget covers public utilities, facility maintenance, and travel expenses. The police agency did not disclose the number of security personnel for security reasons, but it was reported that as of 2021, when Chun passed away, the minimum security detail consisted of a police superintendent-level head and five police officers. The final decision on the burial site is pending further discussion.
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