Volta
Politics16 May 1961

May 16 Military Coup

Also called: May 16 coup

Soldiers led by Park Chung-hee seized power. After rule by the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, Park was elected president in 1963.

Maj. Gen. Park Chung-hee, leader of the coup, 16 May 1961
Maj. Gen. Park Chung-hee, leader of the coup, 16 May 1961

Unknown author · Public domain · Source

On 16 May 1961 a group of soldiers centred on Park Chung-hee overthrew the Chang Myon cabinet. Their Military Revolutionary Committee issued pledges such as "anti-communism shall be the first principle of the nation", then became the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, holding legislative, judicial and executive power. It created the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and promised to punish illicit fortunes and clear rural usury debts.

In 1962 the constitution was amended to a presidential system with direct elections and a single chamber. Despite a pledge to return to civilian rule, Park formed the Democratic Republican Party and defeated Yun Po-sun in the 1963 presidential election.

Show on the map

The map in 1961

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
South Korea — President Yun Po-sun

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

  • Chang Myon1899 – 1966

    related figure · Elected vice president in 1956; prime minister under the parliamentary system after the April Revolution (1960–1961)

  • Yun Po-sun1897 – 1990

    related figure · 4th President (1960–1962), elected by the National Assembly under the parliamentary system after the April Revolution; resigned after the May 16 coup

Before and after

Earlier
1960 Chang Myon Cabinet
Later
1962 Five-Year Economic Development Plans

Related works

  • Documentary: Now It Can Be Told Episode 31: Chang Do-young and May 16Documentary · 2001 · Han Hong-seok · MBC