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South Korea's film "Seoul Spring" received widespread acclaim, and at the same time, a political figure once again appeared in everyone's field of vision: Chun Doo-hwan, who is known as the modern tyrant of South Korea.
A photo of Chun Doo-hwan when he was young
In South Korea's political arena, Chun Doo-hwan is undoubtedly a highly controversial figure. His reign was marked by turmoil and change, which had a profound impact on the direction of the country. Today, when we look at this former president from the perspective of history, it is not difficult to find the complexity and multifaceted behind it.
Coup d'état
Until 1979, Chun was a loyal supporter of Park Chung-hee, one of the most prestigious presidents in South Korean history. But on October 26, 1979, everything changed. On this day, Kim Jae-gyu, then head of South Korea's Central Intelligence Department, assassinated then South Korean President Park Chung-hee and his confidant Cha Ji-cheol and others in Gongjeong-dong, Seoul.
Park Chung-hee
On December 6 of that year, Choi Gyu-ha was carefully elected by the National Assembly of the Unification Juche and became the 10th president of South Korea. He quickly repealed the Emergency Measures Order issued by Park Chung-hee and embarked on a far-reaching constitutional reform. However, the political struggle for your life and death has not yet reached the time when the dust has settled. Just six days later, a military coup led by Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo completely changed South Korea's political landscape.
The coup succeeded in overthrowing Chung Seung-ho, then commander of the Martial Law Command, and Roh Jae-hyun, the minister of defense. Chun Doo-hwan used his position as the head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters of the Martial Law Command to take over the military and intelligence system, becoming the new political leader.
The miracle of the Han River in the post-Park Chung-hee era
Chun Doo-hwan's era was an era full of change and conflict. As a politician by military background, he adopted a series of tough political measures after coming to power in an attempt to stabilize the situation in the country. However, this stability is based on the sacrifice of democracy and freedom. By suppressing dissent and restricting free speech, he has steered the country down a path of violence.
However, we also can't simply portray Chun Doo-hwan as a tyrant. During his administration, he inherited the legacy of Park Chung-hee and promoted industrialization, scientific and technological progress, education improvement, living standard improvement, and urbanization and modernization. During this period, South Korea's rapid economic growth led to the country's rapid rise from the ruins of war to become the world's 11th largest economy, and gave birth to world-renowned multinational companies such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai.
From 1961 to 1979, South Korea's economy developed rapidly, and it was hailed as the "Miracle of the Han River". This achievement was pioneered by the Park Chung-hee government and was inseparable from Chun Doo-hwan's emphasis on and promotion of economic development. Through the implementation of a series of economic policies, he promoted the industrialization process of the country and laid a solid foundation for the rise of Korea.
The end of the "tyrant".
Chun Doo-hwan is also a character full of contradictions and complexities. In the early days of his administration, in order to consolidate his political power, he vowed to uphold the country's democracy and the rule of law. However, as his power expanded, he gradually deviated from this original purpose. His actions and remarks are full of contradictions, and people can't help but feel regret and regret for the former president.
Popular discontent and protests, the rise of political opposition, and the exposure of political scandals all contributed to Chun's downfall. Finally, in February 1988, Chun Doo-hwan was forced to resign from the presidency, achieving the first peaceful transition of power in South Korea.
History is a complex and changeable process, and every character is a part of it. We cannot simply portray a historical figure as a simple image, but rather see the complexity and multifaceted nature behind him. Only in this way can we truly understand history, grasp the present, and look forward to the future.