President Rhee's successor, Yun Po Son, together with Prime Minister Chang Myon, were committed to a more democratic rule, but proved to be too weak to govern.  Their government survived less than one year.  Park Chung Hee, a General in the Army, led a blood-less coup with the assistance of his friend, Kim Jong Pil (Kim JP) in May 1961.  President Park ruled from 1961 until 1979.  Park adopted the Japanese model for economic growth: government support of large business conglomerates in an export-driven economy.  This certainly propelled growth but the weaknesses of this model are revealing themselves now.

During the rule of President Park, elections were either non-competitive or non-existent. When he allowed elections, the results were pre-ordained; Park, backed by the military, would easily win. The exception to this was the election of 1971.    Kim Dae Jung (Kim DJ), a fiery opposition leader from the southwestern (Cholla Nam Do) province, nearly upset President Park.  This near defeat by someone from what he considered the most backward province upset President Park, so he did what most dictators-for-life do.  He cracked down on the opposition, revived strict media censorship laws, and otherwise curtailed freedoms.  "Free" elections were suspended during the remainder of his presidency.  Kim DJ and other opposition leaders (including current president Kim Young Sam (Kim YS) of Kyungsang Nam Do) spent the next fifteen years in and out of prison for their political activities.  In fact, while in Japan, the Korean government kidnapped Kim DJ and brought him back to prison in Seoul.  Intervention by the U.S. and other allies prevented executions of the two Kims on many occasions.

President Park was assassinated in 1979.  Many observers believe his CIA chief was responsible.  Immediately, he was transformed from a ruthless despot into a champion of Korean nationalism, the man responsible for making Korea an economic power.  In December's election, some of Kyongi Do Governor Rhee In Jae's popularity stemmed from his alleged resemblance to Park Chung Hee.

Park's successor, Choi Kyu Ha, lasted less than a year in power.  General Chun Doo Hwan, backed by his longtime military friend, Roh Tae Woo, staged a coup and took power.  Together they ruled even more autocratically than Park.  This regime will be forever linked with the 1980 uprising in Kwangju, home base of opposition leader Kim DJ.  The Tianneman Square-like crackdown of this uprising continues to haunt the nation.  It is still unknown exactly how many protesters were gunned down by the military.  

Bowing to international pressure, and with the 1988 Olympics looming ahead, President Chun agreed to step down and hold "free" elections in 1987.  He named his right-hand man, Roh Tae Woo, as his successor as the head of the ruling Democratic Justice Party.  Chun further used his power to help Roh in many ways, including heavy-handed control of the media and extortion of business tycoons.  Fear of tax audits or other investigations by regulatory agencies tend to inspire large donations.  

Still, the opposition had a chance to win the election due to the widespread distrust and dislike of Chun and Roh.  The 1980 Kwangju massacre was still fresh in many minds.  This chance to win wilted away when Kim DJ and Kim YS failed to unite and split the opposition vote, according to their respective home provinces.  Third "opposition" candidate, Kim JP, further split the opposition by taking many votes in his home province of Chung Chong Do.  I don't have any factual support for this theory, by my guess is that Chun and Roh sanctioned Kim JP's entrance into the election (after all he was President Park's henchman) to confuse the voters with another Kim.  This was a favorite trick of Boston politicians, including the Kennedys.  Whenever someone named Smith would challenge a John Kennedy or a Tip O'Neill on the Republican side, suddenly you would find a second Smith on the Republican primary ballot. The main candidate must spend time and money making sure people know his full name.  I'm sure at least a few people voted for the wrong Kim.  

With a divided opposition, Roh cruised to victory and spent the next five years sucking up money like a rock star at a party with tables full of cocaine.  He presided over a successful Olympics and did allow for some, but not much, more freedom.  Why not?  Freedom brings more economic growth; economic growth allows for more money to extort.  We all know that Chun and Roh faced criminal charges ultimately.  President Kim pardoned them after the last elections, but they must still pay their court fines, though it's unlikely the Korean people will ever see that money returned to their government.