Latin America was not the only place in the world to have military governments where death squads reigned in to purge their nations of leftists. South Korea had its brush with the military government. This comes even before the Dirty War in Argentina and Augusto Pinochet's Chile. South Korea had freedom and democracy, which Koreans rarely had in their long history. Koreans were ruled by a monarchy, like Medieval Europe. During the Second Republic, South Korea adapted a parliamentary system, which Prime Minister Chang Myon was elected. However, it was a turbulent time and lot of political turmoil and polarization. Factionalism ran rampant in South Korea. Power shifted to the Prime Minister of South Korea All things ended however.
A military coup d'eat occurs on May 16, 1961 in Seoul. From there, the National Assembly is dissolved and political activities are restricted, which leadas to martial law. The new president of the military junta for South Korea is Major General Park Chung-Hee. Park Chung-Hee was even voted by elections in October 1963, by a slim majority. His opponent was Yun Po-sun. The 1963 election paves way for the Third Republic. Well into this second term in office, President Park encounters a constitutional provision which limits to two 4 year consecutive terms. An amendment is even approved by a national referendum, but still President Park still wins the election in April 1971. The situation in South Korea deteriorates, civil unrest, and student demonstartions are frequent.
President Park declares emergency and suspends the constitution. Death squads are reigned in and many people are arrested and put in prisons. Many of them who survived came out crippled. He even gave money to people who turned in leftists and communists. Park also enacts the Yushin system, which is economic reform. From there, South Korea's economy grows at 11 percent. Exports also went up, despite sluggish manufacturing. Also, they even got contracts for construction in the Middle East.
However in October 1979, President Park Chung-Hee is assassinated and leads to a national crisis. Prime Minister Choi Kyu-hah takes control, but everything deteriorates again. The military puts martial law again and schools are closed and political activity is banned. Then August 1980, President Chun Doo Hwan is elected on promises for a new constitution. Under President Chun, the economy grows rapidly. General Park Chung-Hee helped modernize South Korea into a nation we know today as comparable to Japan. South Korea is the most wired nation in the world and they have more broadband access then any other nation in the world. Also, South Korea has many conglomerates, like Goldstar and Samsung.
Time Asia-Park Chung HeeFiles on Park Chung-hee’s assassination declassified
