ALL the leaders of South Korea's first Five Republics were forced out of power in disgrace or met with violent deaths.
The First Republic, which began in 1948, came to an end after 12 years, with the exile of the then president Syngman Rhee to Hawaii. Robert E. Bedeski, author of the book The Transformation of South Korea, says the contribution of Rhee in creating a modern state was undeniable, but his use of corrupt methods and force against rivals damaged prospects for democracy. Facing electoral defeat in 1960, Rhee rigged the polls, sparking off popular demonstrations which forced him to resign.
The Second Republic emerged soon afterwards, but civilian rule was aborted by a military coup in 1961, and former army generals ruled till the end of Roh Tae Woo's term in 1993.
The Hwarang warrior elite in Korea formed the core of the military and enjoyed much status and power in society. Martial law and a ban on political parties followed the coup of May 1961. But facing widespread demonstrations and discontent, the military junta prepared to restore civilian rule. Park Chung Hee emerged the foremost military general and retired from his army position to clamp authoritarian rule through his Democratic Republican Party for 18 years.
The Park regime lasted through the Third and Fourth Republics, which saw the economic rise of South Korea to counter the growing might of communist North Korea. Park's political agenda to extend his rule indefinitely following his electoral victory in 1971 with 53 per cent of the vote, again led to agitations. Park reacted by reim posing martial law in 1972, suspending the Constitution, banning political activity, and clamping press censorship.
This led to a wave of opposition to his regime. When a new bout of student protests was launched in March 1979 in the capital Seoul, Park's intelligence chief, Kim Jae Kyu, feared he would be axed by Park for not doing his job. He assassinated Park and five others. Kim was arrested by the army and executed.
The Fifth Republic under Choi Kyu Ha legalised political parties, and launched a campaign called the 'purification of the media', in which hundreds of journalists were dismissed. Choi resigned as a result of the crisis, and supporters of retired general Chun Doo Hwan started a movement to have him elected president. Chun became president in 1980 after ordering the massacre of pro-democracy protesters in Kwangju.
The ghosts of Kwangju returned to haunt Chun and Roh, who were disgraced in a high-voltage court trial in August where Chun was sentenced to death, and Roh to a prison term of more than two decades. After years of playing a commanding rule, the Hwarang warrior elite stands disgraced, and its power is on the decline.
