Late President Kim Young-sam’s death by illness drew public attention on Monday to the health conditions of South Korea’s three living former presidents -- Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo and Lee Myung-bak.
While the oldest, Chun, 84, and the youngest, Lee, 74, are active enough to attend public events and write their memoirs, 83-year-old Roh’s condition has deteriorated. Roh has not been seen in public for about 10 years.
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The photos of South Korea`s living former presidents. |
Chun, who rose to the power though a military coup in 1980 and served until 1988, attended ceremonies for his alma mater last month and paid a visit to the ailing Roh in August. He also met the ruling Saenuri Party leadership and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who paid a courtesy visit to him in January and June, respectively.
Though Chun had reportedly been under stress since 2013 over the government’s attempt to reclaim the fortune that he had accumulated illegally while in office, he reportedly has recovered and is putting the final touches on his memoir. The book will be out earlier next year.
Roh, Chun’s immediate successor and close associate during the 1980 coup, has been undergoing medical treatment for several complications. He is said to be unable to communicate.
Since receiving prostate cancer surgery in 2002, the former army general has been hospitalized several times. Most recently, he was hospitalized for asthma last month.
Lee, who served as president between 2008 and 2012, is inarguably the healthiest former president. Having published his memoir in January, he frequently takes overseas trips. He made headlines this month for his meeting with Japan’s former Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio.
Citing routine exercise as a secret to his health, the former business tycoon is famous for his commitment to healthy habits and love of sports such as tennis. As of Monday, Lee is the only former president who visited Kim’s wake. Roh has sent flowers, while Chun was reportedly considering a visit.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil, 89, who built a coalition government with the Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung administrations, has been wheelchair-bound since he suffered from a stroke in 2008. Despite his deteriorating health, the last of the “three Kims” visited the late president’s wake on Sunday.
By Yeo Jun-suk (
Jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)
