South Korea Begins Retrial of Ex-Spy Chief Over 1979 Assassination

South Korea has begun the retrial of Kim Jae-gyu, the former head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), who assassinated President Park Chung-hee in 1979. Kim was originally sentenced to death and executed in 1980, but his family requested the retrial, alleging he was tortured during interrogation and arguing that his motive was to restore liberal democracy rather than commit insurrection. The retrial centers on whether Kim's assassination of Park was a personal murder or a political act intended to end authoritarian rule, with his defenders portraying him as a patriot who prevented further bloodshed. The court recognized that Kim was subjected to abuse by investigators, which contributed to the decision to reopen the case. Park Chung-hee's legacy remains controversial in South Korea, as he is credited with economic development but criticized for authoritarianism, while Kim continues to be seen as both a traitor and a hero. The retrial has attracted renewed attention as South Korea reflects on its democratic values and historical justice.