Chun Doo-Hwan
Chun Doo-Hwan is a South Korean politician, army general, and military dictator who served as the fifth president of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. He usurped power after the assassination of President Park Chung Hee in 1979 and cemented his military dictatorship through a series of coups and declarations of martial law. During his tenure, he used extreme violence to maintain his rule and was known for his authoritarian style of governance. Despite this, South Korea's economy experienced significant growth under his leadership, achieving its first trade surplus in 1986. Chun Doo-Hwan is also remembered for his role in suppressing the Gwangju Uprising, a student-led demonstration that took place in May 1980. He saw the uprising as a threat to his rule and ordered the military to use force to quell it, resulting in significant loss of life and human rights abuses. Chun Doo-Hwan's legacy is complex and contested, with some viewing him as a strong leader who brought stability and economic growth to South Korea, while others see him as a ruthless dictator who crushed dissent and opposition.
