Park ChungheeIn May of 1961, a military coup led by Major General Park Chung-hee overthrew the government of Chang Myon who was acting as a new prime minister after Rhee's forced resignation. Three months later, Park was narrowly elected president. In 1965, President Park launched energetic economic reforms and signed the Korea-Japan Basic Treaty despite widespread oppostion from number of Korean students. By dropping demands for war reparations in return for economic aid, Japanese capital flowed. Politics remained completely dominated by his Democratic Republican party and he notably utilized the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) for intelligence and intimidation of demestic dissidents. By 1972, Park declared martial law and introduced the new yushin or "revitalization" constitution. Restrictions of civil liberties and removal of political opponents allowed Park to achieve spectacular national economic development and growth. The nation's exports began to increase dramatically and a permanent place in the international market was established. Still, many Koreans grew discontent with the government, and on 26th of October in 1979, Park was assassinated by Kim Chae-kyu, director of KCIA.   
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History of Korea