March 1st Biweekly Journal

[Jiwon Kang]

Today is ironically March 1^st and signifies the March 1^st Movement. Last week, Jenna and I learned about the political system in Korea. The Korean political system is based on a liberal democratic political system currently. The president is considered the chief executive. In America, the term for the president lasts four years up to one reelection, but in Korea, you are only allowed one five-year term without any additional terms for reelection. Currently, the president is Moon Jae In, and she is a part of the democratic party. In Korean, the democratic party is called 더불어민주당. The other political parties in Korea include the centrist, liberal party and the merging of the democratic party and the new political vision party. The previous president before Moon Jae In was Park Geun Hye. He was part of the conservative party or the liberty Korea Party. In Korean it is 자유한국당. The Conservative party is also known as the Saenuri party or the 새누리당. It was previously known as the Hannara Party or 한나라당. Conservatism was shown through militaristic government leaders like Park Jung Hee and Jeon Doo Hwan. Conservatism is shown through economic freedom, but some older generations of Koreans are in favor of economic interventionism from Park Jun Hee’s Presidency era. Jenna and I also talked about Sung Man Rhee, the first ever president of the Republic of South Korea and was part of the Conservative party. The constitution amendment allowed him to have unlimited terms. Protests were forced upon him to resign and he was then exiled to Hawaii. The third president of the Republic of South Korea was Park Jung Hee. He stressed on industrialization and economic growth. He was the De Facto Dictator. He rose to power through military coup. He also created the Yushin Constitution or the imperial role. In 1979, Park Jung Hee was assassinated by the director of KCIA, Kim Jae Gyu, who was one of Park’s best friends. Kim jae Gyu also killed Cha Ji Chul, the chief bodyguard. Jenna and I also talked about the three national intelligence service. The central intelligence agency, the presidential security service, and the defense security command. The three national intelligence services in Korean are translated to 중앙정보부- 김재규 (central intelligence agency), 대통령경호실- 차지철 (presidential security service), 보안사령부- 전두환 (defense security command). Jenna and I also talked about Jeon Doo Hwan. He was the investigator and prosecutor of Park’s assassination case. He was already the military leader. He became more powerful after internal militaristic attacks. He became the leader of both defense security command the the central intelligence agency. There was a lot of college protests all across the country and this pressured the president for martial law command. Next week, we will also talk more about the political system in Korea and other historical events.