| |
| 1961–79 |
| |
The MILITARY DICTATORSHIP OF PAK CH NG-H I witnessed great changes and growth in Korean society, but without a hint of democracy. The Pak regime set South Korea on the path to rapid economic development. Trained by the Japanese military during the colonial period, Pak had no time for political power-sharing and made his rule ever more authoritarian. | 1 |
| |
| 1961–63 |
| |
| Pak governed through a junta, which ruled above the civilian apparatus of government. His regime declared martial law and eliminated all undesirable elements from state, society, and the military. Thousands were arrested. The National Assembly was closed down, political action was itself prohibited, and rigorous censorship was invoked. In June 1961, the Korean CIA (KCIA) was established under Kim Chong-p'il. In March 1962, over 4,000 former political figures were prohibited from participating in politics for six years. | 2 |
| |
| 1963–72 |
| |
| Pak and his fellows in the armed forces tried to use “democratic” political forms to rule. The U.S. was providing large sums of money to the regime and pressuring for a return to civilian rule. Pak had announced (Aug. 12, 1961) that the junta would relinquish authority to civilian control in 1963, followed by the end of martial law (Dec. 1962) and the approval of a constitutional referendum. | 3 |
| |
| 1963, Jan |
| |
| A measure of political freedom was allowed, as the country prepared for elections. | 4 |
| |
| March 22 |
| |
| Marchers demonstrated in Seoul against Pak's statement of March 16 in which he withdrew his promise of elections to a new government, claiming the necessity of four more years of military government. On March 26, civilian politicians refused Pak's compromise offer of a civilian-military junta. The U.S. government also claimed it would withdraw $25 million in aid if he went through with his plans. | 5 |
| |
| April 1 |
| |
| Civilian leaders, insisting that the ruling junta honor its promise to hold elections, agreed to meet with the junta to discuss a coalition government. Pak agreed (April 6) to hold elections in the fall and to form an interim coalition government of military and civilian leaders to prepare the country for the election. | 6 |
| |
| Aug. 31 |
| |
| The junta's Democratic Republican Party (DRP) nominated Pak as its presidential candidate in the Oct. 15 elections. Pak had just retired (Aug. 30) from the military. The other parties learned of the Oct. 15 election date only in mid-August, thus having but a month to pick candidates and launch campaigns. | 7 |
| |
| Oct. 15–18 |
| |
| The presidential elections resulted in a victory for Pak, with 47 percent of the vote. | 8 |
| |
| |
