The October Yusin (Hangul: 10월 유신, Hanja: 10月 維新), also known as October Restoration, October Revitalization, or the October Revitializing Reforms, refers to the amendment of the Constitution on October 1972. The new Constitution called the Yusin Constitution allowed the president to dissolve the National Assembly, nominate a justice of the Supreme Court, and it even permitted the re-election of the president for a limitless number of six-year terms. A indirect election was adopted with the amendment. In effect, the Yusin Constitution converted Park Chung-hee's presidency into a legal dictatorship. Park was re-elected in 1972 and 1978 with no opposition. The new administration under Yushin Constitution is now called Yushin Regime (유신체제, 維新體制) or Yushin Dictatorship (유신독재, 維新獨裁).
Background edit
July 4th North–South Joint Declaration edit
On May 4th 1972, the director of Korea Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), Lee Hu-rak went to North Korea and met Kim Il-sung. They announced North-South Joint Declaration with the three principles of the reunification. After the declaration, the direct phone cable was installed between Seoul and Pyeongyang. The desire of the reunification was getting heated. Park pretexted it for the amendment of the constitution.
the third term of the presidency edit
The third term of the presidency had been prohibited by 1969. However, Park forced the National Assembly to allow it, so the new constitution that abled the third term of the presidency was proclaimed in 1969. He was re-elected in the 1971 presidential election and the Third Republic of South Korea was replaced in 1972 by the Fourth Republic of South Korea under Park Chung-hee.
the 8th general election edit
The 8th general election held on May 5, 1971. Democratic Republican Party took 113 seats of 204. However, it didn't qualify the minimum condition to pass a vote of a constitutional amendment. It required the concurrence of two thirds or more of the total members of the National Assembly. Therefore, Park couldn't amend the constitution with the lawful way.
Timeline edit
the third term of the presidency edit
Declaration of a state of emergency edit
In October 17 1972, Park announced a presidential special declaration. After that, Park dissolved the National Assembly, suspended the constitution and declared a martial law. Universities were closed also. The Press, the speech, and the newscast was sensored under a state of emergency. Work was then begun on a new constitution, which was resolved in October 27 by the emergency State Council.
the national vote edit
With Samseon Gaeheon in 1968, the Third Term of the Presidency is allowed for Park Chung-hee.
Yusin Constitution edit
In accordance with the Yusin Constitution, an electoral college called Tongil Juche Gungmin Hoeui (통일주체국민회의, the National Council for Unification) was set up. Tongil Juche Gungmin Hoeui became sovereign organization that elected the president and one third of Assemblymen. Besides, the regulation for the reelection was deleted, so actually the president can be reelected as many as he likes. Furthermore, the Yusin Constitution allowed the president to make 'Gingeup Jochi' (긴급조치권, Emergency Measure) which made the president be able to announce emergency that can be acted beyond the constitution. The president would have 6-year term, but he could serve consecutive terms without any limit. It practically guaranteed permanent term to Park Chung-Hee.
Aftermath edit
Soon Yushin administration was challenged by activists from various backgrounds such as college students, artists, religious leaders, and leaders of the opposition party. Yushin Administration and Park suppressed these protests cruely with state violence. To set up a threatening example to the anti-Yushin movement, some innocent people were executed on charge of the treason where the only proofs, their confessions, were forged by severe torture. (People's Revolutionary Party Incident) So Yushin was also criticized world-widely for human right abuse. As time went by, the resistance to Yushin got severe and caused serious social unrest.