South Korea: His Brother’s Keeper

When Chun Doo Hwan, 57, stepped down as President of South Korea in February, critics charged that he planned to exercise behind-the-scenes control over Roh Tae Woo, his protege and successor. Last week, though, Chun took quite a different step: he surrendered his remaining public posts in connection with a scandal involving his brother, Chun Kyung Hwan, 45, who has been charged with embezzling $9.6 million in national development funds. Declaring that “I have failed to control my brother,” Chun resigned as head of a council that advises the President on national affairs, and as honorary president of the governing Democratic Justice Party. Chun’s moves could strengthen Roh and his party in next week’s election for the 299-seat National Assembly.