Roh Tae-woo

President of South Korea from 1988 to 1993

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Lived 1932–2021, aged 89South Korea

South Korea PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
53 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1932–2021
Aged 89
Awards
3
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

South Korea's first directly elected president under democratic rule — and later a convicted participant in the military coup and massacre that preceded his own reforms.

Biography

About

Born in Daegu on 4 December 1932, Roh Tae-woo attended the Korea Military Academy with Chun Doo-hwan, fought in Vietnam, and by 1979 commanded the White Horse Division as a major general. That December he played a key role in the military coup that brought Chun to power, then supported the violent crackdown of the Gwangju Uprising in 1980. When Chun handpicked him as presidential candidate in June 1987, mass pro-democracy rallies erupted across the country; Roh responded with the June 29 Declaration, promising direct elections and sweeping reforms. He won in December with a plurality and took…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Roh Tae-woo

Roh Tae-woo

said23 Jun 1991

I emphasized that authoritarianism . . . should be removed and that we should renovate both the system and the way of thinking that then prevailed.

— Interview with the Los Angeles Times (23 June 1991)

Roh Tae-woo

said23 Jun 1991

I am aware of the recent discussions about creating a nuclear-free zone in the Korean peninsula.

— Interview with the Los Angeles Times (23 June 1991)

Roh Tae-woo

said23 Jun 1991

North Korea’s recent decision to go along with South Korea in joining the United Nations separately means a change in North Korea’s policy toward the South remains to be seen.

— Interview with the Los Angeles Times (23 June 1991)

Roh Tae-woo

said13 Nov 1987