Roh Tae-woo

A memorandum and promissory notes produced in the divorce proceedings between Chey Tae-won and Roh Soh-yeong revealed an alleged 30 billion won fund originating from Roh Tae-woo and transferred to the former head of SK. The amount had not been addressed in the 1990s conviction. Prosecutors opened an investigation into possible concealment of criminal proceeds and tax evasion, traced accounts in 2025 and, on 21 August 2026, searched the home of his widow, Kim Ok-suk, and several entities and homes linked to the family.

Legal status — source text

Family and related persons under investigation for alleged concealment/tax offences; Roh deceased; existence and flow of full alleged fund not finally adjudicated

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

Roh was considered an important figure in the military establishment responsible for suppressing the Gwangju pro-democracy uprising in May 1980. His responsibility formed part of his historic trial. After his death, his family made public a final message in which he asked the victims of Gwangju for forgiveness.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated

Roh Tae-woo, then a general and close associate of Chun Doo-hwan, participated in the military takeover of 12 December 1979. He was subsequently prosecuted alongside Chun in the 1990s and convicted of mutiny and treason in connection with the coup.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In 1995, Roh acknowledged establishing a slush fund worth several hundred million dollars, financed by corporate payments. He was arrested and prosecuted for accepting bribes from major companies and convicted of corruption in addition to the charges linked to the coup.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

Roh merged his ruling party with two major opposition parties led by Kim Young-sam and Kim Jong-pil, creating a dominant majority. Kim Dae-jung and other opponents denounced a betrayal of the electoral mandate and a "political coup"; major demonstrations followed, and the merger was also criticised for reinforcing regional divisions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In 1990, disclosure of a military surveillance system targeting politicians, religious leaders, journalists, trade unionists and students caused a national scandal. The system, associated with the so-called Cheongmyeong plan, included lists of civilians to monitor and, under certain martial law scenarios, arrest.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Roh's government declared the new national teachers' union, KTU, illegal, and hundreds of teachers were dismissed or sanctioned for joining it. South Korean retrospective accounts put the number of teachers dismissed at approximately 1,500, making this a significant controversy over trade union rights and political freedom during the democratic transition.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted