User:Aquatixo/sandbox

Background
On October 26th, 1979, the former president of South Korea of the time, Park Chung-Hee, was assassinated by the leader of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). Following the death of the former president, South Korea entered a state of transition. Times prior to the death of Park Chung-Hee, was void of democracy and South Korea was a autocratic state. After the assassination, a revision to change South Korea into a nation of democracy was attempted to be implemented. Choi Kyu-hah, who was the prime minister of the time, became the successor of Park Chung-Hee and was appointed the role of acting president. With Choi Kyu-ha in power, restricting regulations of the rule of Park Chung-Hee were repealed and opposition leaders and activists, such as Kim Dae-jung, were freed from restraint. Choi Kyu-ha later became the official president of South Korea on December 6th, 1979. Despite the attempt to change South Korea from an autocratic state to a democratic nation, the already established ideals stemming from the Yushin Constitution, such as martial law and dictatorial rule, was failed to be abolished and an authoritarian rule of the military remained.

Chun Doo Hwan was the head of the Military Security Security Command during the assassination of Park Chung-Hee. Chun Doo-Hwan, Major General at the time, was appointed the role of investigating the assassination of Park Chung Hee. With the responsibility of inspecting the case of the assassination, Chun Doo-Hwan was able to find favorable opportunities to cave the way of grasping authority. Chun Doo-Hwan was able to gain control of the Republic of Korea army (ROK Army) on December 12th, 1979 after he arrested Jung Seung-Hwa, who was the chief of staff of the Korean army and also the commander of martial law, in addition to the other forces that would threaten his ideals. On December 14th, two days after grasping the ROK Army, Chun Doo-Hwan began to seat allies from the Korean Military Academy in powerful seats of the military in order to gain total control over the military forces of South Korea. For example, Roh Tae-woo, a man who would later become one the future presidents of South Korea, was given the role of commanding general of the Capital Security Command.

Chun Doo-Hwan continued to strengthen his power during the early months of 1980. The citizens of South Korea were unhappy with the current status and a momentum started demonstrations, known as the Seoul Spring. The Seoul Spring is a term that came from the Prague Spring of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and refers to the democratic and political liberation desires of the people of South Korea. Demonstrations from the citizens continued to go on and the peak was reached during mid-May of 1980. The army was utilized to suppress the movement, with the usage of armed troops and armored vehicles. Despite the counter measures of the military, the center of Seoul was crowded with demonstrators on May 14th and more than one-hundred thousand students gathered in the front of Seoul Station.

Day of the Coup
Starting from the month of March of the year 1980, from the continued pressures of the government that came from the continued implementation of the Yushin system, martial law and the failure for the government to progress forward, citizen of South Korea, with the involvement of students being significant, started to merge together and began the ‘Seoul Spring’ with  demonstrations. In addition, tensions rose even more as although South Korea had a president, Choi Kyu-hah, the real political authorities were held by Chun Doo-Hwan and his group of officers and demonstrations were intensified to call an end for the rule by Chun Doo-Hwan. By the month of May, the demonstrations became enormous and the center of Seoul was packed with those participating in the demonstrations. The government retaliated against the demonstrators by sending armed troops and armored vehicles. On May 17th, 1980 Chun Doo-Hwan declared Martial Law Decree No. 10, which strengthened martial law and expanded its reach across the whole nation. In addition, actions that would pose a threat to the government were restricted; such as public criticism from broadcasting and publications and political gatherings, also universities were closed and labor strikes were banned, and the demonstrations that yearned for a democracy were put to an end. In addition to the expansion of martial law, political figures were apprehended. These figures were; Kim Dae-jung, Kim Yong-sam, Kim Jong-pil and Yi Hu-rak. The coup of March 17 abruptly put on end the demonstrations of the Seoul Spring and prolonged the period of authoritarian rule.