By Yusuf Boluwatife
Former South Korean President, Roh Tae-woo, on Tuesday, died at the age of 88.
According to his aides, Roh was recently admitted to Seoul National University Hospital after his health status worsened following an undisclosed ailment.
Roh, a former general, served as president for 5 years — 1988 to 1993. He was a key participant in the 1979 military coup that made his army friend and coup leader Chun Doo-hwan president after their mentor, dictator Park Chung-hee, was assassinated earlier in 1979.
As pro-democracy rallies spread rapidly across the nation in 1987, Roh accepted calls for a direct presidential system and was elected president later that year through a direct vote.
In 1996, Roh and Chun, his predecessor were convicted for corruption and rebellion for their role in the 1979 military coup and in the unlawful abolition of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the South-western city of Gwangju.
He was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment and $260 billion won fine. Roh was later pardoned in 1997.
