Park Chung Hee

14 November 1917 – 26 October 1979

Park Chung Hee was a South Korean army officer and politician who took power in a military coup in May 1961 and served as President from 1963 until his death in 1979. His government directed a state-led industrialisation programme and, from 1972, ruled under the Yushin Constitution, which removed limits on presidential terms and curtailed civil liberties. He was shot dead in Seoul by the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Park Chung Hee.

Life events

Born in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province
14 November 1917

Born into a poor rural family in Korea under Japanese rule.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Graduated from Daegu Normal School and became a schoolteacher
1937

Taught at an elementary school in Mungyeong for several years.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Entered the Manchukuo Imperial Army Academy
1940 – 1944

Trained as an officer in Manchukuo and went on to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in Tokyo, graduating in 1944.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Korean Constabulary after liberation
1946

Entered the constabulary officer school in Seoul, the forerunner of the Korea Military Academy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Court-martialled after the Yeosu-Suncheon rebellion
1949

Convicted of involvement in a communist cell within the army and sentenced to death; the sentence was commuted and he was later reinstated.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Yuk Young-soo
1950

Married his second wife, with whom he had three children, including Park Geun-hye.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led the military coup of 16 May 1961
16 May 1961

Directed the seizure of power by army officers and headed the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Inaugurated as President of South Korea
17 December 1963 – 26 October 1979

Took office after the 1963 election, beginning a presidency that lasted until his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Yushin Constitution promulgated
December 1972

A new constitution, adopted after the declaration of martial law, removed presidential term limits and gave the president power to appoint a third of the legislature.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Shot dead in Seoul
26 October 1979

Killed by Kim Jae-gyu, the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, during a dinner at a KCIA compound.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓