Editing History of South Korea (section)

==Fifth Republic (1981–1988)==
{{Main|Fifth Republic of Korea}}
[[File:Mangwol-dong-cemetery.JPG|thumb|alt=Mangwol-dong cemetery (2008)|Burial grounds of the victims of the [[Gwangju Uprising]] at Mangwol-dong cemetery]]
After the [[assassination of Park Chung-hee]], Prime Minister [[Choi Kyu-hah]] took the president's role only to be usurped 6 days later by Major General [[Chun Doo-hwan]]'s 1979 [[Coup d'état of December Twelfth]].<ref name="lhh 604" /> In May of the following year, a vocal civil society composed primarily of university students and labour unions led strong protests against authoritarian rule all over the country. Chun Doo-hwan declared martial law on 17 May 1980, and protests escalated. Political opponents [[Kim Dae-jung]] and [[Kim Jong-pil]] were arrested, and [[Kim Young-sam]] was confined to house arrest.<ref name="5th lhh">Lee Hyun-hee (2005, pp 605–609)</ref>

On 18 May 1980, a confrontation broke out in the city of [[Gwangju]] between protesting students of [[Chonnam National University]] and the armed forces dispatched by the Martial Law Command. The incident turned into a citywide protest that lasted nine days until 27 May and resulted in the [[Gwangju Uprising|Gwangju massacre]]. Immediate estimates of the civilian death toll ranged from a few dozen to 2000, with a later full investigation by the civilian government finding nearly 200 deaths and 850 injured.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/21.htm The Kwangju uprising], South Korea: A Country Study</ref><ref>{{in lang|ko}} [https://archive.today/20120707065831/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=245095 "May 18th Pro-Democracy Movement"] at [[Doosan Encyclopedia]]. Originally called ''Gwangju Uprising'', the event has officially been named as the ''5.18 Pro-Democracy Movement'' or ''Gwangju Pro-Democracy Movement'' since 1995.</ref><ref name="aks chun">The Academy of Korean Studies (2005, pp 206–208)</ref> In June 1980, Chun ordered the National Assembly to be dissolved. He subsequently created the National Defense Emergency Policy Committee, and installed himself as a member. On 17 July, he resigned his position of KCIA Director, and then held only the position of committee member. In September 1980, President Choi Kyu-hah was forced to resign from president to give way to the new military leader, Chun Doo-hwan.

In September of that year, Chun was elected president by [[indirect election]] and inaugurated in March of the following year, officially starting the Fifth Republic. A new Constitution was established with notable changes; maintaining the presidential system but limiting it to a single 7-year term, strengthening the authority of the National Assembly, and conferring the responsibilities of appointing judiciary to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. However, the system of indirect election of the president stayed and many military persons were appointed to highly ranked government positions, keeping the remnants of the Yushin era.<ref name="aks chun" /><ref name="5th rep">{{in lang|ko}} [https://archive.today/20130104032352/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=137666 The 5th Republic]</ref>
[[File:President Ronald Reagan toasts with President Chun Doo Hwan.jpg|thumb|South Korean President [[Chun Doo-hwan]] with U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] in Seoul, November 1983]]
The government promised a new era of economic growth and democratic justice. Tight monetary laws and low interest rates contributed to price stability and helped the economy boom with notable growth in the electronics, semi-conductor, and automobile industries. The country opened up to foreign investments and GDP rose as Korean exports increased. This rapid economic growth, however, widened the gap between the rich and the poor, the urban and rural regions, and also exacerbated inter-regional conflicts. These dissensions, added to the hard-line measures taken against opposition to the government, fed intense rural and student movements, which had continued since the beginning of the republic.<ref name="5th lhh" /><ref name="5th rep" />

In foreign policy, ties with Japan were strengthened by state visits by Chun to Japan and Japanese Prime Minister [[Yasuhiro Nakasone]] to Korea. U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] also paid a visit, and relations with the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]] improved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/27.htm|title=South Korea – Chun – Foreign Policy|access-date=24 October 2016}}</ref> The relationship with North Korea was strained when in 1983 [[Rangoon bombing|a terrorist bomb attack in Burma]] killed 17 high-ranking officials attending memorial ceremonies and North Korea was alleged to be behind the attacks. However, in 1980 North Korea had submitted a "one nation, two system" reunification proposal which was met with a suggestion from the South to meet and prepare a unification constitution and government through a referendum. The humanitarian issue of reuniting separated families was dealt with first, and in September 1985, families from both sides of the border made cross visits to [[Seoul]] and [[Pyongyang]] in an historic event.<ref name="5th lhh" /><ref name="5th rep" />

[[File:Seoul Arts Center.jpg|thumb|alt=Seoul Arts Center at night alt text|[[Seoul Arts Center]]]]
The government made many efforts for cultural development: the [[National Museum of Korea]], [[Seoul Arts Center]], and [[List of museums in South Korea|National Museum of Contemporary Art]] were all constructed during this time. The [[1986 Asian Games]] were held successfully, and the bid for the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in Seoul was successful as well.<ref name="5th lhh" />

Despite economic growth and success in diplomatic relations, the government that gained power by [[coup d'état]] was essentially a military regime and the public's support and trust in it was low when the promises for democratic reform never materialized.<ref name="5th rep"/> In the 1985 National Assembly elections, opposition parties won more votes than the government party, clearly indicating that the public wanted a change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/28.htm|title=South Korea – The Demise of the Chun Regime|access-date=24 October 2016}}</ref> Many started to sympathize with the protesting students. The [[Gwangju Uprising|Gwangju massacre]] was never forgotten and in January 1987, when a protesting [[Seoul National University]] student died under police interrogation, public fury was immense. In April 1987, President Chun made a declaration that measures would be taken to protect the current constitution, instead of reforming it to allow for the direct election of the president. This announcement consolidated and strengthened the opposition; in June 1987, more than a million students and citizens participated in the nationwide anti-government protests of the [[June Struggle]].<ref name="5th rep"/><ref name="lhh june">Lee Hyun-hee (2005, pp 610–611)</ref><ref>{{in lang|ko}} [http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=351853 June Democracy Movement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304105336/http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=351853 |date=4 March 2021 }} at [[Doosan Encyclopedia]]</ref>

On 29 June 1987, the government's presidential nominee [[Roh Tae-woo]] gave in to the demands and announced the [[June 29 Declaration]], which called for the holding of direct presidential elections and restoration of civil rights. In October 1987 a revised Constitution was approved by a national referendum and direct elections for a new president were held in December, bringing the Fifth Republic to a close.<ref name="lhh june"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/66.htm|title=South Korea – POLITICS|access-date=24 October 2016}}</ref>