Death of South Korea’s Notorious Torture Expert Revives Dark Era

The passing of Lee Geun-an, South Korea’s infamous torture police officer, resurrects deep wounds from the nation’s authoritarian military past. His death sparks renewed scrutiny of state-sponsored human rights abuses and the lingering legacy of political repression.

Lee Geun-an, an 88-year-old former South Korean police officer notorious for his brutal torture techniques during interrogations under authoritarian military regimes, died of multiple organ failure on Thursday. Known as the “torture expert,” Lee became a symbol of state brutality and repression in South Korea’s darkest years.

Lee’s career spanned decades when South Korea was ruled by military-backed autocrats enforcing strict control through widespread human rights violations. He never expressed remorse for his actions, instead proudly identifying as a “patriot” and calling his torture methods an “art form,” which deepened pain for survivors and human rights advocates.

His death reopens a national debate on how South Korea confronts its authoritarian past and the accountability of officials implicated in abuses. The unresolved trauma continues to shape political tensions over transitional justice and the preservation of democratic norms.

Lee employed a range of torture techniques aimed at extracting confessions and suppressing political dissent, contributing to hundreds of cases of forced disappearances, wrongful imprisonments, and psychological trauma. His notoriety underscores systemic state violence during the Cold War era in East Asia.

With his death, the government faces intensified calls to document and punish historical abuses fully. The episode highlights ongoing struggles in regional states to reconcile authoritarian legacies with the demands of human rights and democracy in the 21st century.