Young Writers Society

Two different coup d’états, two different results
- Democratization is not what we're given for granted; it is what we fight for


After just a couple of generations, Korea has managed to go from war-ravaged to become the 13th most developed country in the world. Korea also experienced civil war, and two consecutive rises for democracy, two coup d’états while in confrontation with North Korea, a communist country. Despite the 'unsavory' conditions, Korean citizens managed to achieve democracy, all by themselves. Consequently, Korea achieved both democracy and economic development after its civil war and has achieved a 'Global Dream'. So what are the keys to Korean success?

There were two coups in total in post-modern Korea. The first was under the influence of General Park,Chung-hee on May 15, 1961, and the second was under the influence of another , General Jeon,Doo-hwan on December 12, 1980. These two grabs for power may seem similar, but there exists a significant difference, for the former begot political monopoly, and the latter ultimately led to the achievement of democracy.

From the final cease-fire of World War Two, Korea regained its political independence. However, the happiness was not long-lasting. Soon after achieving independence (August 15, 1945), Korea had to suffer polarization, which resulted in the creation of two Koreas, the North supported by the Soviet Union, and the South, supported by the U.S. Before Korean could overcome the polarization of their own race, a civil war was commenced (June 6, 1950), which met an end by a cease-fire treaty in July, 1953. However, in this process, dismayed by the economic devastation and political corruption, the citizens fought against government forces (April 19, 1960), eventually causing the downfall of the first administration, and the rise of a second republic. Unfortunately, owing to the lack of experience regarding democratization, different points of view were neglected, causing the ‘reign of chaos’ in a social sense, and magnifying economic hardships.

Under these harsh circumstances, the coup d’état that occurred on May 16, 1961 succeeded, leading to the dictatorship of our country via military force. The citizen’s ‘silent agreement’ could be characterized as the main reason for the success of the May 16 coup d’état. The democratization Korea obtained after thousands of years of dynasties and almost half a century of imperialism was not a blessing. Rather, it was a catastrophe. The democratization that was unexpectedly given by foreigners to our country after the Second World War was simply chaos, for the people (citizens) of Korea never, even through a few thousand years of history, were given the chance to live as the owners of their own land. Korean did not know what kind of responsibilities followed freedom, and what they were supposed to do when they encountered opinions against their own. Accordingly, democracy became dissolute, chaotic, and law-less. Under such a situation, others were not thought of as having equal rights and responsibilities, nor as people who should cooperate. In fact, the barbaric thought that those who had opinions that were different from one’s own should be considered an adversary, was pervasive. As a result, the citizens encountered financial expenses that followed political chaos, causing them to tacitly want a new order that could replace the disorder of democracy. Accordingly, General Park’s May 16 coup d’état that followed, succeeded under the ‘silent agreement’ of the citizens. People wanted an end to the chaos.

Korea “silently” agreed to a military government due to ceaseless political disorder and hunger. By confirming financial aid from many foreign countries including the U.S., they rescued the citizens from insolvency, and they seemed to clean up the pervasive act of corruption. However, without restraint from the citizens, the military government became corrupt. To elongate their ‘reign of chaos’ they started to curtail the rights of citizens. The media had to be checked first-hand, citizens could not express their feelings against the government, and every single act of congregation had to have government approval. There was even a curfew that didn’t allow citizens to be out of their dwellings after midnight. To summarize, the freedom of the press, the freedom of congregation, and even the freedom of thought and action, was all restricted. What’s more, people that stood up against the government received heavy punishments. The government even sentenced Kim Dae Jung, the presidential candidate of the opposing party, to death. Through such rulings, and presidential voting manipulation, General Park was voted in as president three times in a row, and in the October of 1972, through the Ushin Constitution, achieved an endless reign.

However, the craving for democratization was blooming, despite the government’s harshness regarding anything that could threaten its path. Citizens began to realize the importance of freedom. Even though the government had blocked off foreign information, Korean citizens, who are renowned world-wide for their ‘thirst’ for knowledge, were experiencing the democracy of foreign developed countries indirectly, through studying oversees, and global trade. Accordingly, the Korean’s social power, which was matured through economic composure and education, came to a state where it could be held back by the government no longer. The fight for democracy, which was fueled mainly by students and a few politicians, met its climax on October 17, 1972. On this date, General Park bent the constitution to allow his reign indefinitely. To this, the citizens of Korea finally opened their eyes and stood up against the government. The rise of the citizens was met by the government’s oppressive tactics. Many citizens were caught and tortured, which seemed to momentarily lull the fight for democracy. However, once started, the craving for democracy seemed to know no bounds. Finally, the sporadic demonstrations all over the country led to a single large-scale demonstration in the southern province of Korea, in October of 1979, where citizens from all over the country joined to fight. After the imprisonment of over a thousand innocent students and citizens, the demonstration in the southern provinces ended, leaving the possibility of other demonstrations in other provinces. At this, the government met conflict between themselves, and this led to the death of General Park, by one of his subordinates. Finally, the military regime of General Park, which lasted for 20 long years, came to an end.

Spring came to Korea, after a long winter of military rule. Many politicians started to prepare for the democratization of Korea, and the citizens felt ready. However, spring did not last long in Seoul. A second military coup took place on May 17, 1981. Under the fabricated accusation, “if a gap in political power in a polarized situation (South and North Korea) is elongated, it threatens the existence of the government,” General Jeon,Doo-hwan raised a military coup. Matured economically, and culturally, unlike 20 years before, the citizens of Korea severely resisted another military regime. Just a day later, on May 18, a demonstration started in the Gwang Ju province, which spread quickly to other provinces, creating a demonstration which attracted millions of people, an unprecedented number. Threatened by this, General Jeon carried out a military operation imbued on a grand scale, with tanks and helicopters. Official numbers show that there were 166 killed, 54 people lost, 376 dead from the after-effects, and 3,139 wounded. Countless citizens were caught, tortured, imprisoned or sentenced to death for treason.

Via military subjugation stained with blood, and indirect election, General Jeon became president, and once more blinded, muted, and deafened the citizens. The desire for democracy, which seemed to disappear under the oppressive rule of the dictatorial regime, surfaced again, by the form of sporadic demonstrations led by students and politicians all over the country, which later evolved into a single, colossal demonstration on June 10, 1987, in which citizens from all over the nation came to join, and as one, finally achieved the downfall of their oppressor. The military government’s acceptance of the citizen’s demand for direct voting gave way to the first election practiced on December 16, 1987. With this, Korea finally became a true democracy in which the Korean citizens acted as the true owner of their country, after 26 years of shameful dictatorships.

After the end of the Japanese occupation in 1945, there were two attempts to usurp political power. The first attempt was by General Park, which led to 20 long years of political monopoly. On the other hand, the second attempt, by General Jeon, lasted six years. Both lost to democracy. What made such a difference?
First, we could consider the fact that we were, as the citizens of Korea, not familiar with democracy when the first military coup occurred. Democracy was first introduced to Korea in 1948. Its intended purpose went awry, causing chaos and self-indulgence. Consequently, the citizens of Korea never realized the importance of democracy. What’s more, owing to the indifference regarding democracy, the civil society was unable to mature, so we were in an economically deprived situation, where the middle-class were not able to firmly establish their place in society. The monopolization of information was also possible. All these factors combined and contributed to a 20 year-term of mental imprisonment.

Later, when General Jeon underwent his coup in 1981, things were different, his coup seemed anachronic. The citizens of Korea, after 20 years of grueling autocracy, realized the importance of freedom. Despite strong regulations that the government established, the Korean citizens, boasting zeal for education, were already sharing a vast field of information, and engaging with democracy in developed countries. Due to the sudden acceleration in economic development which started in the 1970’s, the middle class of Korea came to form a considerable, solitary political force. Furthermore, the failure to block the influx of foreign influence, in the run-up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was also a contributing factor to the downfall of General Jeon’s reign.

Considering all of this, it is evident, how the leader of each country should act, for the settlement of democracy. First, the most important factor in fortifying democracy is to make the citizens know the importance of freedom. Also, to minimize social chaos, which sudden democratization can cause, constant education regarding democracy and freedom is necessary. However, ‘hungry’ democracy can be easily provoked, so the leaders of each country must endeavor to expand economic footing, in order to meet the basic needs of the citizens, while striving to create a society open to the world, a society where information is freely shared, a society where political monopoly cannot set foot.

But, what is more important than the role of the leaders is the role of the citizens, every single one of them. The zeal towards being free, the zeal towards ownership of the country, such zeal makes democracy possible. This is because democracy is not what we receive from the leaders, rather, it is what we fight for, what we must achieve. To secure freedom, and to protect democracy, every single person in this world should always be politically, economically, and culturally awake.

<Bibliography>
-A look into Korean Modern History. Seoul: Institute of Historical Studies, 2004
-“5.16 Military Coup”
History Quarterly. July 2010
-The Korean Recent＆Contemporary History.Vol.2.Seoul:
National Text Book, 2008. 227-50
-Wikipedia: History of Korea