Politics17 October 1972

October Yushin

President Park declared martial law, dissolved the National Assembly and introduced the Yushin constitution, concentrating power in the presidency.

Presidential spokesman Kim Sung-jin announcing the October Restoration (Yushin), 17 October 1972
Presidential spokesman Kim Sung-jin announcing the October Restoration (Yushin), 17 October 1972

경향신문사 · Public domain · Source

On 17 October 1972 President Park Chung-hee declared nationwide martial law, dissolved the National Assembly and banned party activity. After a referendum in November, the Yushin constitution was promulgated in December.

Under it the president was elected indirectly by the National Conference for Unification for a six-year term with no limit on re-election. The president held emergency-decree powers and the power to dissolve the Assembly, and nominated one third of its members for election by the Conference (the Yushin Political Fraternity). The president controlled the legislature, judiciary and executive alike.

The map in 1972

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States and rulers at the time
South Korea — President Park Chung-hee

People

  • Park Chung-hee1917 – 1979

    leader · 5th–9th President (1963–1979). Led the May 16 coup, the five-year economic plans and the Yushin system; killed in the October 26 incident

Before and after