Editing History of South Korea (section)

==Second Republic (1960–1963)==
{{Main|Second Republic of South Korea}}
After the student revolution, power was briefly held by an interim administration under the Foreign Minister [[Heo Jeong]].<ref>Yonhap (2004, p.&nbsp;270).</ref> A new parliamentary election was held on 29 July 1960. The Democratic Party, which had been in the opposition during the First Republic, easily gained power and the Second Republic was established. The revised constitution dictated the Second Republic to take the form of a parliamentary cabinet system where the President took only a nominal role. This was the first and the only instance South Korea turned to a parliamentary cabinet system instead of a presidential system.<ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://terms.naver.com/item.nhn?dirId=702&docId=6473 Parliamentary cabinet system in the 2nd Republic] at Naver dictionary</ref> The assembly elected [[Yun Posun|Yun Po-sun]] as President and [[Chang Myon]] as the Prime Minister and head of government in August 1960.<ref name="aks 2rep"/><ref>Lee Hyun-hee (2005, pp 592–593)</ref><ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=137719 The 2nd Republic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304105301/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=137719 |date=4 March 2021 }}</ref><ref>[http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/12.htm Democratic Interlude], South Korea: A Country Study</ref>

The Second Republic saw the proliferation of political activity which had been repressed under the Rhee regime. Much of this activity was from leftist and student groups, which had been instrumental in the overthrow of the First Republic. Union membership and activity grew rapidly during the later months of 1960, including the Teachers' Union, Journalists' Union, and the Federation of Korean Trade Union.<ref name="aks 2rep">The Academy of Korean Studies (2005, p189)</ref><ref>Yang (1999, p.&nbsp;196); Nahm (1996, pp.&nbsp;410–412); Yonhap (2004, p.&nbsp;270)</ref> Around 2,000 demonstrations were held during the eight months of the Second Republic.<ref>Yang (1999, p.&nbsp;196). Nahm (1996, p.&nbsp;412) gives "2,000."</ref>

Under pressure from the left, the Chang government carried out a series of purges of military and police officials who had been involved in anti-democratic activities or corruption. A Special Law to this effect was passed on 31 October 1960.<ref name="Nahm 1996, p. 411">Nahm (1996, p.&nbsp;411).</ref><ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=729443 Policies of the 2nd Republic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304105333/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=729443 |date=4 March 2021 }} at [[Doosan Encyclopedia]]</ref> 40,000 people were placed under investigation; of these, more than 2,200 government officials and 4,000 police officers were purged.<ref name="Nahm 1996, p. 411"/> In addition, the government considered reducing the size of the army by 100,000, although this plan was shelved.<ref>Nahm, loc. cit.</ref>

In economic terms as well, the government was faced with mounting instability. The government formulated a [[Five-Year Plans of South Korea|Five-Year Economic Development Plan]], although it was unable to act on it prior to being overthrown.<ref>Nahm (1996, p.&nbsp;412); Yonhap (2004, pp.&nbsp;270–271)</ref> The Second Republic saw the ''[[South Korean hwan|hwan]]'' lose half of its value against the dollar between fall 1960 and spring 1961.<ref>Nahm (1996, p.&nbsp;412)</ref>

Although the government had been established with support of the people, it had failed to implement effective reforms which brought about endless social unrest, political turmoil and ultimately, the [[May 16 coup]].

===Military rule (1961–1963)===
[[File:5.16 Coup Park Chung-hee.jpg|thumb|Major General [[Park Chung Hee]] (center) during the [[May 16 coup]]]]
{{Main|Supreme Council for National Reconstruction}}
The [[May 16 coup]], led by Major General [[Park Chung Hee]] on 16 May 1961, put an effective end to the Second Republic. Park was one of a group of military leaders who had been pushing for the de-politicization of the military. Dissatisfied with the cleanup measures undertaken by the Second Republic and convinced that the current disoriented state would collapse into communism, they chose to take matters into their own hands.<ref name="lhh 593">Lee Hyun-hee (2005, pp 593–595)</ref><ref name="aks 192">The Academy of Korean Studies (2005, pp192-193)</ref><ref name="516 doosan">{{in lang|ko}} [https://archive.today/20130129142005/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=115821 5.16 coup d'état] at [[Doosan Encyclopedia]]</ref>

The National Assembly was dissolved and military officers replaced the civilian officials. In May 1961, the [[military junta|junta]] declared "Pledges of the Revolution": [[anticommunism]]; strengthened relations with the United States; an end to government corruption termed "fresh and clean morality"; a self-reliant economy; working towards reunification; and a return to democratic civilian government within two years.<ref name="lhh 593"/><ref name="aks 192"/><ref name="516 doosan"/><ref name="pch sk">[http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/13.htm Park Chung-Hee], South Korea: A Country Study</ref>

As a means to check the opposition, the military authority created the [[National Intelligence Service (South Korea)|Korean Central Intelligence Agency]] (KCIA) in June 1961, with [[Kim Jong-pil]], a relative of Park, as its first director.<ref name="aks 192"/><ref name="pch sk"/><ref>{{in lang|ko}} [https://archive.today/20120715222231/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=21698 KCIA] at [[Doosan Encyclopedia]]</ref> In December 1962, a referendum was held on returning to a presidential system of rule, which was allegedly passed with a 78% majority.<ref name="Yonhap 2004, p. 271">Yonhap (2004, p.&nbsp;271).</ref>  Park and the other military leaders pledged not to run for office in the next elections. However, Park became presidential candidate of the new [[Democratic Republican Party (South Korea)|Democratic Republican Party]] (DRP), which consisted of mainly KCIA officials, ran for president and won the [[1963 South Korean presidential election|election of 1963]] by a narrow margin.<ref name="lhh 593"/><ref name="516 doosan"/><ref name="pch sk"/><ref name="Yonhap 2004, p. 271"/>