Chun Woo-won
Chun Woo-won | |
|---|---|
Chun in May 2023 | |
| Born | Chun Woo-won 23 January 1996 |
| Other names | Jeon Woo-won Jamie Chun |
| Alma mater | New York University Stern School of Business |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2023 – present |
| Relatives | Chun Doo-hwan (grandfather) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 전우원 |
| RR | Jeon Uwon |
| MR | Chŏn Uwŏn |
Chun Woo-won (Korean: 전우원; born January 23, 1996), also known by the English name Jamie Chun, is a South Korean activist and whistleblower.[1] He is the grandson of the late South Korean military leader and president Chun Doo-hwan.[1] In 2023, he garnered widespread international attention after publicly denouncing his family's history and becoming the first direct descendant of the former dictator to formally apologize for the 1980 Gwangju Massacre.[2][3]
Early life and family
Chun was born in 1996 as the second son of Chun Jae-yong, the second son of Chun Doo-hwan.[1] He lived in Seoul until the seventh grade, after which he moved to the United States.[1] Chun attended the NYU Stern School of Business in New York City, where he studied business and economics.[1] Despite his residency in the U.S., Chun returned to South Korea to fulfill his mandatory military service, serving for two years.[1] He spent part of his childhood in South Korea before moving to the United States for his education, eventually working at an accounting firm in New York City.[1]
His upbringing within the influential Chun family was marked by what he later described as a distorted education where he was taught that his grandfather was a hero and that the 1980 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju was a "riot".[4]
Whistleblowing and revelations (2023)
In March 2023, Chun launched a series of social media broadcasts from New York making several high-profile allegations against his family.[1] He accused his relatives of maintaining a lavish lifestyle funded by illegal slush funds hidden by his grandfather.[1] He claimed to have witnessed and experienced physical abuse and neglect within the family residence.[5]
He publicly labeled his grandfather a "mass murderer," "slaughterer," and "criminal".[1] During a livestream on March 17, 2023, he consumed several narcotics, including LSD and ecstasy, expressing a desire to be punished for his family's crimes and his own personal vices.[1]
Return to South Korea and Gwangju apology
Chun returned to South Korea on March 28, 2023, where he was immediately arrested at Incheon International Airport on suspicion of drug use.[6] He was released the following day after cooperating with authorities.[6] On March 31, 2023, he visited Gwangju, becoming the first direct descendant of Chun Doo-hwan to formally apologize to the bereaved families of the May 18 Democratization Movement.[6] In a highly publicized ceremony, he performed a keunjeol (a full-prostration bow) before victims and survivors.[7] He publicly thanked the citizens of Gwangju for accepting his apology, stating that his grandfather had "stamped on heroes... with military boots".[7] He cleaned the tombstones of victims at the May 18 National Cemetery using his own coat.[7]
Legal proceedings
Chun was indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act.[8] In December 2023, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced him to 30 months in prison, suspended for four years.[8] The court cited his sincere remorse and voluntary return to the country as reasons for leniency.[8] An appeals court confirmed this sentence in April 2024, adding requirements for three years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and 80 hours of drug treatment.[8]
Digital storytelling
In late 2025, Chun began releasing an AI-generated webtoon series on his Instagram titled Monggeuli.[9] The series features a lamb character, "Monggeuli" (representing Chun), who lives in a castle inhabited by "black-horned sheep" (representing his father and grandfather).[9] The webtoon details his childhood trauma, his dawning realization of the brutality of the Gwangju Massacre, and his struggles with depression and drug addiction.[9] Chun concluded the first installment of the series, which depicts his character's return to Korea and subsequent arrest.[10] He has expressed a desire to continue telling his story to prevent the erasure of historical truths.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Interview of Chun Woo-won, Grandson of Chun Doo-hwan: Only One in the Family to Apologize and Expose Irregularities". Kyunghyang Shinmun. August 2, 2023.
- ^ "S Korea dictator's grandson sorry for 1980 Gwangju crackdown". BBC News. March 31, 2023.
- ^ "South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan's grandson apologises for 'sinner and slaughterer' grandfather and 1980 massacre". South China Morning Post. November 4, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-military dictator's grandson apologizes to victims in Gwangju". The Korea Herald. March 31, 2023.
- ^ "Chun Doo-hwan Grandson Posts 'Never Been Born' Regret". The Chosun Daily. December 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Grandson of Chun Doo Hwan apologizes to victims of May 18 Gwangju Uprising". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Chun Woo-won apologizes to Gwangju victims, calls grandfather 'criminal'". The Korea Times. March 31, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Chun Woo-won, superrich Koreans in US, and drugs". Nation Thailand. April 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Grandson of late South Korean dictator begins webtoon telling of family abuse, repression". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 15, 2025.
- ^ "Grandson of ex-President Chun indicted without detention over alleged drug use". The Korea Herald. October 5, 2025.