May Coup (South Korea)
Encyclopedia
The May Coup d'État was a military coup d'état carried out in South Korea
by major general
Park Chung-Hee
and his subordinate officers on May 16, 1961. He justified his coup in the name of bringing the stability to the society and implementing the anti-communism
policy. The civilian government (Second Republic of South Korea
) which had been established by April Revolution
, 1960 was overthrown by this coup. After this coup, the military junta, called Supreme Council for National Reconstruction
(국가재건최고회의, 國家再建最高會議) took power and began to implement the national reconstruction policy. And Park, then only a lieutenant general, eliminated his senior generals and made himself full general.
At the same time, they abolished democratic reforms of the civilian government and abridged the basic rights of people in the name of preventing communists from making social confusion. After 3 years of the junta administration, the constitution of Third Republic of South Korea
was enacted. At first, Park Chung-Hee, chairman of the junta said that he would return to unit after the civilian administration is established. But after the new constitution was enacted, he discharged himself and ran for the presidency. He won the election and became the 5th president of South Korea. After the consecutive two terms, in 1969 he (and his party, Democratic Republican Party of Korea, 민주공화당) tried to amend the constitution that originally forbade the 3rd term, saying that he would not take the presidency any more after his 3rd term. Although there was a huge opposition movement to this amendment, the constitution was amended as he wanted. But during his third term, he launched self-coup
, October Yushin
and enacted the new constitution that practically allowed his life term.
After May Coup, the military government ruled South Korea for the next several decades (until 1993). After Park was assassinated in 1979, the prime minister, Choi Kyu-ha succeeded Park position. Although he was not from the military, he could not redeem the civilian government. After the consecutive coups (Coup d'état of December Twelfth
, Coup d'état of May Seventeenth
, Gwangju massacre
) by the newly emerging military leaders, the real power had gone to the hands of them. In September 1980, Choi was forced to resign from president to give way to the new military leader, Chun Doo-hwan
. After Choi, the next two presidents of South Korea were also from the military. Although May Coup had been called " May Revolution" (5.16 혁명 , 五一六革命) during the military government period, after 1993, it was denounced and officially degraded into a coup. And it has been condemned as the opening of the military rule and the overthrow of the lawful government in South Korea by the post-military civilian administrations.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
by major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Park Chung-Hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
and his subordinate officers on May 16, 1961. He justified his coup in the name of bringing the stability to the society and implementing the anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
policy. The civilian government (Second Republic of South Korea
Second Republic of South Korea
The Second Republic of South Korea was the government of South Korea for eight months in 1960 and 1961. It succeeded the First Republic, but was followed by a military government under the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction.-Establishment:...
) which had been established by April Revolution
April Revolution
The April Revolution, sometimes called the April 19 Revolution or April 19 Movement, was a popular uprising in April 1960, led by labor and student groups, which overthrew the autocratic First Republic of South Korea under Syngman Rhee. It led to the peaceful resignation of Rhee and the transition...
, 1960 was overthrown by this coup. After this coup, the military junta, called Supreme Council for National Reconstruction
Supreme Council for National Reconstruction
The Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, initially named the Revolutionary Committee, was a military junta that oversaw the government of South Korea from May 16, 1961 until the inauguration of the Third Republic of South Korea in 1963...
(국가재건최고회의, 國家再建最高會議) took power and began to implement the national reconstruction policy. And Park, then only a lieutenant general, eliminated his senior generals and made himself full general.
At the same time, they abolished democratic reforms of the civilian government and abridged the basic rights of people in the name of preventing communists from making social confusion. After 3 years of the junta administration, the constitution of Third Republic of South Korea
Third Republic of South Korea
The Third Republic of South Korea was the government of South Korea from 1963 to 1972. It was presented as a return to civilian rule after a period of rule by the military junta known as the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction which had overthrown the Second Republic of South Korea in 1961...
was enacted. At first, Park Chung-Hee, chairman of the junta said that he would return to unit after the civilian administration is established. But after the new constitution was enacted, he discharged himself and ran for the presidency. He won the election and became the 5th president of South Korea. After the consecutive two terms, in 1969 he (and his party, Democratic Republican Party of Korea, 민주공화당) tried to amend the constitution that originally forbade the 3rd term, saying that he would not take the presidency any more after his 3rd term. Although there was a huge opposition movement to this amendment, the constitution was amended as he wanted. But during his third term, he launched self-coup
Self-coup
A self-coup or autocoup is a form of coup d'état that occurs when a country's leader, who has come to power through legal means, dissolves or renders powerless the national legislature and assumes extraordinary powers not granted under normal circumstances. Other measures taken may include...
, October Yushin
October Yushin
October Yushin or the October Restoration was an October 1973 self–coup by Park Chung–Hee in which Park, who was already president of South Korea, assumed essentially dictatorial powers.- July 4th North–South Joint Declaration :...
and enacted the new constitution that practically allowed his life term.
After May Coup, the military government ruled South Korea for the next several decades (until 1993). After Park was assassinated in 1979, the prime minister, Choi Kyu-ha succeeded Park position. Although he was not from the military, he could not redeem the civilian government. After the consecutive coups (Coup d'état of December Twelfth
Coup d'état of December Twelfth
The Coup d'état of December Twelfth or the "12.12 Military Insurrection" was a military coup d'état which took place on December 12, 1979 in South Korea....
, Coup d'état of May Seventeenth
Coup d'état of May Seventeenth
Coup d'état of May Seventeenth was a military coup d'état carried out in South Korea by general Chun Doo-hwan and Hanahoe that led Coup d'état of December Twelfth....
, Gwangju massacre
Gwangju massacre
The Gwangju Democratization Movement refers to a popular uprising in the city of Gwangju, South Korea from May 18 to May 27, 1980. During this period, citizens rose up against Chun Doo-hwan's military dictatorship and took control of the city...
) by the newly emerging military leaders, the real power had gone to the hands of them. In September 1980, Choi was forced to resign from president to give way to the new military leader, Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan was a ROK Army general and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996 for his heavy-handed response to the Gwangju Democratization Movement, but later pardoned by President Kim Young-sam with the advice of then President-elect Kim Dae-jung,...
. After Choi, the next two presidents of South Korea were also from the military. Although May Coup had been called " May Revolution" (5.16 혁명 , 五一六革命) during the military government period, after 1993, it was denounced and officially degraded into a coup. And it has been condemned as the opening of the military rule and the overthrow of the lawful government in South Korea by the post-military civilian administrations.