Park Chung Hee

Major-General Park Chung Hee (September 30, 1917 - October 26, 1979) was President of South Korea from 1961 to 1979.

Related Topics:
September 30 - 1917 - October 26 - 1979 - President - South Korea - 1961

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Park was born in Gumi, a small town in North Gyeongsang province near Daegu. Park graduated from the Japanese Manchurian military academy in 1944. A civilian government had been established in 1960, but it proved to be weak and ineffective; Park led a successful military coup in 1961. While Yun Po Sun, the president of the previous regime, remained in office, Park was the real power. Following pressure from the Kennedy administration in the United States, a civilian government was restored, with Park winning the election in 1963.

Related Topics:
Gumi - North Gyeongsang - Daegu - 1944 - 1960 - 1961 - Yun Po Sun - Kennedy administration - United States - 1963

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Park is generally credited as playing a pivotal role in the development of South Korea's economy by shifting its focus to export-led industrialization. When he came to power in 1961, South Korean per capita income was only USD$72, and North Korea was regarded as the greater economic and military power on the peninsula. During Park's tenure, per capita income increased twentyfold, and South Korea's rural, undeveloped economy had transformed into an industrial powerhouse. Even Kim Dae-jung, one of Park's most prominent opponents during his rule, has retrospectively praised him for his role in creating the modern-day Republic of Korea. http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990823/park1.html

Related Topics:
South Korea's - Per capita income - USD - North Korea - Kim Dae-jung

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Despite his dictatorial rule and the high growth that occurred during his years in power, Park displayed admirable honesty, never seemingly tempted to enrich himself like so many other despots. Indeed, he considered it important that his lifestyle be an austere one if he was asking his countrymen and women to sacrifice for future prosperity. He wore simple suits, mixed his rice with barley to save on rice and had bricks placed in the toilet of his official residence to conserve water.

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After almost a decade in power under an electoral system that saw Park just barely squeeze through tight elections in 1967 against Yn in 1971 against Kim Dae-jung, Park declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution. In 1972, he introduced the Yusin Constitution, which dramatically increased his power. This move, which made him a virtual dictator, alienated many segments of South Korean's population. Following the Constitution's passage, Park's regime grew markedly more repressive, with the KCIA becoming well-known for detaining and torturing opposition leaders. Park was reelected to seven-year terms in 1972 and 1978, but voting was indirect and controlled by the incumbent administration.

Related Topics:
1967 - 1971 - 1972 - Yusin Constitution - Dictator - KCIA - 1978

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On August 15, 1974 a botched assassination attempt by North Korean agent Moon Se-gwang (문세광, 文世光) claimed his wife Yuk Yeong-su's life instead. Park himself was assassinated on October 26, 1979 by Kim Jae-kyu, the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and long-time friend.

Related Topics:
August 15 - 1974 - North Korean - Moon Se-gwang - Yuk Yeong-su - October 26 - 1979 - Kim Jae-kyu - Korean Central Intelligence Agency

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