Park Chung-hee
Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
Park Chung-hee was a South Korean general. He seized power in a military coup in May 1961 and was elected president in 1963. He drove very fast industrial growth through five-year plans built around exports, which means selling goods to other countries. Growth moved from light industry, such as textiles, to heavy and chemical industries. He also ruled harshly. His Yusin Constitution of 1972 let him stay president for life, and he was assassinated in 1979.
Example
In 1970 Park launched the Saemaul Movement to modernise villages. In 1972 he brought in the Yusin Constitution, which made his presidency permanent and cut back political freedoms.
Don't confuse with
- Chun Doo-hwan: Chun took power in a coup after Park's assassination in 1979. It was Chun's government that crushed the Gwangju movement in 1980 and gave in to the June 1987 protests.
Related concepts
- Taiwan
- Cross-Strait relations
- Joseon dynasty
- Japanese annexation of Korea
- 38th parallel
- Korean War
- Export-oriented industrialisation
- Import substitution industrialisation
- Saemaul Movement
- Gwangju Democratisation Movement