Korea, South

THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (ROK), or South Korea, was established August 15, 1948. Syngman Rhee was chosen as the first president through elections supervised by the United Nations. The period of Rhee's rule [Page 727]is the First Republic. From the end of the Korean War (1950–53) until 1960, Rhee, who was a graduate of several American universities, grew increasingly autocratic. He was supported by the Liberal Party and by the Democratic Party. He lost Democratic Party support over his autocratic rule. Rhee's government was marked by enough corruption that it eventually sparked riots. Repression evoked more civil disturbances, forcing his resignation.

From April 1960 until May 1961, there was a brief period of democratic rule in the Second Republic. The constitution was revised and Chang Myon, head of the Democratic Party, was elected prime minister. However, factions in the Democratic Party fought bitterly for power. The military, fearing chaos, took control on May 16, 1961.

Major General Park Chung Hee, along with other officers, created the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction. The National Assembly was abolished. Military officers were put in charge of the government's agencies. In June 1961, General Park established the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), headed by Colonel Kim Jong-pil. After Park organized the Democratic Republic Party, he retired from the military. He ran as president in October 1963, winning only narrowly. He won elections in 1967 and 1971 during a time of great economic development. However, he moved the regime ever closer to dictatorship until in October 1972 he dissolved the National Assembly and offered the country a new constitution, the yushin (“renewal”) reform. The Yushin Constitution made the president the head of the military and the civil administration, and the chairman of the National Conference for Unification. This body was an electoral college for electing the president.

In 1975, Park enacted Emergency Measure Number 9 to meet increasing opposition. This law made it a crime to criticize the Yushin Constitution. On October 26, 1979, Kim Jae Gyu, head of the KCIA, assassinated Park. The Yushin government collapsed and civilian rule was restored. In December 1979, Choi Kyu Ha, head of the interim civilian government, released numerous political prisoners. The Democratic Republic Party, headed by Kim Jong-pil, and the New Democratic Party, headed by Kim Young Sam began to compete vigorously for votes in the coming election. In the absence of repression, wage strikes, student protests, and factional struggles within the parties occurred To stop student protests aimed at removing the military from politics, Major General Chun Doo-hwan declared martial law on May 17, 1980. Basic civil rights were suspended and opponents were jailed. Revolts broke out in several locations with fighting that killed several thousand people. Four top generals created a Special Committee for National Security Measures. They closed publications, abolished political parties, and repressed dissent. In 1980 the Fifth Republic was established. Retired General Chun Doo Hwan was elected president. In 1987, protests led to the “democratic opening” and the end of autocratic and military rule and the Sixth Republic.

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