Korea in the 1960s: Revolution and the Start of Industrialization

The April Revolution of 1960 forced President Syngman Rhee to resign on 26 April, and the Second Republic was founded on a parliamentary system. On 16 May 1961, however, a military coup led by Park Chung Hee brought the army to power. Park's government pursued export-led growth and light industry through its five-year economic development plans, and normalized relations with Japan and sent troops to Vietnam, laying the groundwork for rapid growth. A constitutional amendment later allowed the president to serve a third term.

Year by year

Korea in 1960

Protests against the rigged March 15 election grew into the April Revolution, forcing President Syngman Rhee to resign. A constitutional amendment introducing a parliamentary system launched the Second Republic, and aft…

• Mar 15The presidential and vice-presidential elections were held amid massive fraud by the Liberal Party government (the March 15 rigged election).
• Apr 11The body of Kim Ju-yeol, a student missing since the Masan protests, was found in Masan harbor with a tear-gas shell lodged in his eye, spreading protests nationwide.
• Apr 19Students and citizens staged mass protests against electoral fraud and dictatorship; police opened fire, causing many deaths (the April Revolution).

Korea in 1961

On May 16, Major General Park Chung Hee and other officers staged a military coup that toppled the Second Republic, and the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction took over legislative, executive and judicial power…

• May 16Military forces led by Major General Park Chung Hee staged a coup that brought down the Chang Myon cabinet (the May 16 coup).
• May 19The Military Revolutionary Committee was renamed the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, which exercised all three branches of power.
• Jun 10The Korean Central Intelligence Agency Act was enacted, establishing the KCIA.

Korea in 1962

The military government announced the First Five-Year Economic Development Plan, starting state-led economic development. President Yun Po-sun resigned, a currency reform replaced the hwan with the won, and a year-end r…

• Jan 13The Park government announced the First Five-Year Economic Development Plan.
• Mar 22President Yun Po-sun resigned in protest against the Political Purification Law, and Park Chung Hee became acting president.
• Jun 10A currency reform introduced the won at a rate of 10 hwan to 1 won.

Korea in 1963

The Democratic Republican Party was founded, and Park Chung Hee narrowly defeated Yun Po-sun in a direct presidential election. After National Assembly elections, the Third Republic was launched on December 17, ending m…

• Feb 26The Democratic Republican Party was founded around the leaders of the May 16 coup.
• Oct 15In the fifth presidential election, Park Chung Hee defeated Yun Po-sun by the narrowest vote margin in Korean presidential history.
• Nov 26Elections for the sixth National Assembly were held.

Korea in 1964

As protests against Korea–Japan normalization talks intensified, the government declared martial law on June 3. With National Assembly approval, the first troops were dispatched to Vietnam, and late in the year exports…

• Jun 3As protests against the Korea–Japan talks peaked, the government declared martial law to suppress them (the June 3 Movement).
• Jul 31The National Assembly approved the dispatch of troops to Vietnam—the first approval of an overseas deployment in South Korean history.
• Aug 14The KCIA announced the so-called People's Revolutionary Party case (first incident) and said it had arrested those involved.

Korea in 1965

Amid strong opposition, the Treaty on Basic Relations was signed and ratified, normalizing relations between Korea and Japan. Following the Dove Unit, the Blue Dragon and Tiger divisions landed in Vietnam as combat-troo…

• Mar 10The Dove Unit, a construction support group, left Incheon for Vietnam.
• Jun 22South Korea and Japan formally signed the Treaty on Basic Relations.
• Aug 14The treaty was ratified in a National Assembly session attended only by the ruling party.

Korea in 1966

The Brown Memorandum, setting out U.S. support in return for additional troops to Vietnam, was signed, as was the Korea–U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. Kim Ki-soo became Korea's first world professional boxing champion…

• Mar 7The Brown Memorandum was signed, committing U.S. security and economic support in return for additional Korean troops in Vietnam.
• Apr 19The main body of the Capital Division's 26th Regiment landed at Quy Nhon, Vietnam.
• May 24Samsung affiliate Korea Fertilizer was caught smuggling saccharin disguised as construction materials (the saccharin smuggling case).

Korea in 1967

Park Chung Hee was re-elected in the sixth presidential election, and the ruling party won the National Assembly elections that followed. The KCIA announced the East Berlin spy case, and the Guro export industrial compl…

• AprThe first complex of the Korea Export Industrial Complex (Guro Industrial Complex) was completed in Guro-dong, Seoul.
• May 3Park Chung Hee was re-elected in the sixth presidential election, a rematch with Yun Po-sun.
• Jun 8Elections for the seventh National Assembly were held.

Korea in 1968

Inter-Korean tensions peaked with North Korean commandos' attempted raid on the Blue House, the seizure of the USS Pueblo and the Uljin–Samcheok infiltration. In response, the Homeland Reserve Forces were created and re…

• Jan 21Thirty-one North Korean Unit 124 commandos attempted to raid the Blue House and assassinate President Park Chung Hee, but failed (the January 21 Incident).
• Jan 23The U.S. Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo was seized by North Korea in international waters in the East Sea.
• Apr 1The Homeland Reserve Forces were established in the wake of the January 21 Incident.

Korea in 1969

A constitutional amendment allowing a third presidential term was rammed through the National Assembly and then confirmed by referendum. North Korea shot down a U.S. Navy EC-121 aircraft and hijacked a Korean Air Lines…

• Apr 15A U.S. Navy EC-121 early-warning aircraft was shot down by North Korean fighters over the East Sea, killing all 31 crew.
• Jul 21The Gajwa–Incheon section of the Gyeongin Expressway opened.
• Sep 14A constitutional amendment allowing a president to serve three consecutive terms was pushed through the National Assembly irregularly on a Sunday.

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