1979 South Korean coup d'état

1979 coup d'état in South Korea that brought Chun Doo-hwan to power June 2023 hist December 2025 Coup d'état of December Twelfth Mutinied forces securing the perimeter of Gyeongbokgung Palace 12 December 1979 Seoul, South Korea Mutiny successful Shingunbu military group became the new head of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Beginning of consolidation of power under Major General Chun Doo-hwan Shingunbu Hanahoe military clique Military Security Command Flag of the government of South Korea (1988–2016).svg Government of South Korea Ministry of National Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff Special Warfare Command Chun Doo-hwanRoh Tae-woo Choi Kyu-hahJeong Seung-hwaJang Tae-wanJung Byeong-joo ko 장태완 11 killed, 15 wounded 1 Truck destroyed 5 killed, 5 wounded The coup d'état of December Twelfth or the 12·12 Military Insurrection (12·12 군사 반란 十二十二軍事反亂) was a mutiny which took place on 12 December 1979, in South Korea, where a secret society of military officers known as Hanahoe led by Major General Chun Doo-hwan mutinied against the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army General Jeong Seung-hwa.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/14/archives/7-top-generals-are-held-in-seoul-military-power-struggle-is-seen.html 7 Top Generals Are Held in Seoul Military Power Struggle is Seen Seven Key South Korean Generals Being Held in Seoul The New York Times 14 December 1979 https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/24/archives/seoul-detains-general-in-sedition-plot.html Seoul Detains General in Sedition Plot The New York Times 24 December 1979 The coup led to Chun strengthening his military and political position in South Korea, leading to his outright seizure of power as president in 1980. Background The assassination of the 3rd President of South Korea, Park Chung Hee, on 26 October 1979 had thrown South Korea into a state of political turmoil. Prime Minister Choi Kyu-hah immediately became acting President and declared a state of martial law across the nation with the exception of Cheju. He appointed Chief of Staff of the Army General Jeong Seung-hwa to oversee the operation of martial law.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/03/archives/most-powerful-man-in-seoul-chung-seung-hwa.html Most Powerful Man in Seoul Chung Seung Hwa The New York Times 3 November 1979 Jeong appointed Major General Chun Doo-hwan, commander of the Defence Security Command to investigate Park's assassination. Jeong, Chun and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Jong-hwan were then the most powerful figures in the military.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/30/archives/3-korean-generals-assume-major-roles-south-koreas-top-soldier.html 3 Korean Generals Assume Major Roles The New York Times 30 October 1979 According to official investigations, President Park's assassin and director of KCIA Kim Jae-gyu had approached Jeong, who was present at the scene of the assassination (though not a witness) to take command of the situation after his assassination, but Jeong refused.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/01/archives/seoul-assassins-reportedly-tried-to-draw-armys-chief-into-plot.html Seoul Assassins Reportedly Tried to Draw Army's Chief into Plot; Seoul Assassins Reportedly Tried to Persuade Army Chief to Join Conspiracy After Killings; Continued from Page A1 The New York Times November 1979 https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/17/archives/korean-testifies-he-alone-planned-parks-murder-kim-was-close-friend.html Korean Testifies He Alone Planned Park's Murder Kim Was Close Friend of Park The New York Times 17 December 1979 Chun, who harbored political ambitions, was a rival to Jeong, given that the Military Security Command served as a hedge against any potential military coup under President Park.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/18/archives/tough-general-who-appears-in-control-of-seoul-chon-too-hwan-man-in.html Tough General Who Appears in Control of Seoul The New York Times 18 December 1979 Jeong moved to reassign Chun, Roh Tae-woo, and other members of Hanahoe to less important posts to sideline them and prevent Hanahoe’s rise. Fearing their careers were at stake, Chun and the rest of Hanahoe moved before Jeong could render them politically impotent. Mutiny On the evening of 12 December 1979, Chun,기무사 '37년 소격동시대' 마감... 과천 이전 https://www.donga.com/news/Politics/article/all/20081119/8659656/1 11 December 2022 The Dong-a Ilbo 19 November 2008 ko acting without authorization from President Choi, ordered the arrest of Jeong on allegations of involvement in the assassination of former President Park. Minister of National Defense Roh Jae-hyun fled from his position and brought his entire family to the Yongsan Garrison to seek protection in the U.S. embassy before being advised to return to duty. After reluctantly returning to the army command, he refused to order the arrest of Chun or other rebel generals. Instead, he ordered the arrest of Jeong to appease the rebels. Shortly thereafter, he withdrew from politics.Park Won Gon The U.S. Carter Administration and Korea in the 12/12 Incident: Concession of Moral Diplomacy https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/79841/1/08_Park%20Won%20Gon_OK.pdf Korean Social Sciences Review 15 February 2024Han In Sup Kwangju and beyond: Coping with past State Atrocities in South Korea Human Rights Quarterly 2005 27 3 998–1045 https://www.jstor.org/stable/20069818 15 February 2024 0275-0392 After Jeong's capture, the 29th Regiment of the 9th Division, along with the 1st and the 3rd Special Forces Brigade, invaded downtown Seoul to support the 30th and 33rd Capital Security Groups, which were loyal to Chun, resulting in a series of clashes that broke out in the capital. Two of Jeong's allies, Major General Jang Tae-wan7월 26일은 비운의 진짜 군인 장태완(張泰玩) 장군 사망일 - 개미뉴스 http://www.antnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=235 July 26th is the death anniversary of General Jang Tae-wan, a truly unfortunate soldier 2022-01-14 Ant News ko (Commander of Army Capital Security Command) and Major General Jeong Byeong-ju (Commander of Army Special Warfare Command), were also arrested by the rebel troops. Major Kim Oh-rang, aide-de-camp of Jeong Byeong-ju, was killed during the gunfight.The harrowing real-life stories of the Korean military coup depicted in "12.12: The Day" https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/1118411.html 29 November 2023 English Edition: The Hankyoreh 30 November 2023 By the next morning, the Ministry of Defense and Army Headquarters were occupied by the mutineers. Chun and his fellow graduates of the 11th class of the Korea Military Academy, such as Major General Roh Tae-woo, commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division, and Major General Jeong Ho-yong, were in charge of the Korean ground forces.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/15/archives/korean-general-filling-key-posts-with-his-men-to-bolster-power.html Korean General Filling Key Posts with His Men to Bolster Power Americans Refuse to Comment General's Allies Named Korean General Forces His Allies on New Government Malaysians Are Alarmed The New York Times 15 December 1979 Chun's mutiny and the subsequent consolidation of power was aided by the powerful private club of military officials known as Hanahoe.https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20211123000675 육사·하나회·쿠데타 질긴 인연 전두환과 노태우... 죽음도 '추종' NewsPim 2021-11-23 The Navy and Air Force did not participate in the mutiny, but Chun subsequently co-opted them following its success. In addition, the only Marine Corps involvement in the coup was by Jeong's residential guards, who engaged in armed confrontation with the 33rd MP. Chun became the de facto commander-in-chief, rather than President Choi Kyu-hah. Aftermath Jeong Seung-hwa was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in a court-martial on 13 March 1980,https://www.nytimes.com/1980/03/14/archives/seoul-general-gets-a-10year-sentence-exmartial-law-chief-is.html Seoul General Gets a 10-Year Sentence – Ex-Martial Law Chief is Convicted in Connection with a Reputed Plot by Park's Assassin The New York Times 14 March 1980 while Jang Tae-wan and Jeong Byeong-ju were forcibly discharged from military service and placed under house arrest.12·12 당시 수도경비사령관 장태완 장군 육필 수기(진압 실패 10시간) https://www.sisajournal.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=117159 시사저널 2006-05-16 편집국 2024-09-30 2024-09-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20240913041315/https://www.sisajournal.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=117159 live ko In January 1980, the South Korean military underwent a massive reorganization. Since then, any generals who had made critical remarks about the mutiny, either in public or in private, were either forced to leave their posts or were transferred to other positions.지는 별 뜨는 별: 청와대 실록 이계성 한국문원 1993 ko Meanwhile, the United States failed to intervene as Chun carried out the mutiny. According to The New York Times, Chun mobilized military divisions stationed near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to enter Seoul without notifying General John A. Wickham Jr., the commander of the US-led ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC). U.S. Ambassador William H. Gleysteen's post-mutiny assessment spoke of how the U.S. "missionary work" to guide the new government "seems washed down the drain". A diplomat at the time commented to The New York Times that American foreign policy in South Korea for the past three decades were "crumbling in their hands." After the mutiny, the Carter administration then chose to prioritize regional stability over South Korea's democratic transition, deeply fearing that political chaos could trigger an invasion by North Korea. Influenced by the events in revolutionary Iran, top Carter administration officials, including diplomat Richard Holbrooke, strongly discouraged any American actions that might unravel the South Korean government, explicitly stating, "Nobody wants another Iran". General Wickham and Ambassador Gleysteen ultimately decided against intervening militarily or forcefully condemning the rebel generals, fearing that a direct confrontation or an attempted counter-coup could trigger violent conflicts between South Korean military factions.https://www.peninsuladispatch.com/p/the-road-to-1212-a-closer-look-at The Road to 12/12: A Closer Look at South Korea's 1979 military Coup Gabriela Bernal 12 December 2023 www.peninsuladispatch.comhttps://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/16/archives/us-influence-couldnt-avert-south-korean-coup.html U.S. Influence Couldn't Avert South Korean Coup Henry Scott Stokes 16 December 1979 NYTimes.comhttps://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/korea/2017-06-01/how-do-you-solve-problem-south-korea How Do You Solve a Problem like (South) Korea? | National Security Archive nsarchive.gwu.eduhttps://www.koreaherald.com/article/10379348 U.S. half-heartedly accepted 1979 military coup Korea Herald 11 December 2012 The Korea Heraldhttps://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/24/archives/in-seoul-cautious-changes-news-analysis.html In Seoul• Cautious Changes Henry Scow Stokes; Special to The New York Times 24 December 1979 NYTimes.com The mutiny marked the beginning of the end of the Fourth Republic of Korea. The mutiny, the coup d'etat of the civilian government on 17 May 1980, alongside the Gwangju Uprising,[영화는실화다] 영화 '서울의 봄'_ 12·12 군사 반란 [The movie is a true story] Movie '12.12: The Day'_ December 12 Military Uprising https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/052/0001964141?sid=100 24 November 2023 YTN ko Naver was the primary justification for Chun's 1995 arrest by the Kim Young-sam administration. In 2022, a presidential commission on military deaths reclassified Kim Oh-rang's death during the coup as having been "killed in action" rather than having "died on duty". The redesignation meant that Kim's death was officially attributed to engagement with the enemy or while preventing disturbances to public peace, such as a rebellion. In 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ordered the government to provide 300 million won (US$216,000) in compensation to the Kim's relatives following a lawsuit filed by his family.(LEAD) Court orders gov't to compensate late lieutenant colonel in 1979 military coup https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250812003851315 2025-08-12 2025-08-12 Yonhap Cultural references Film 12.12: The Day (2023) Television 4th Republic (1995–96)<방송> MBC「제4공화국」12.12사태 재현 Broadcast MBC「Fourth Republic」Reenactment of the December 12 Incident https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0003946949?sid=103 31 October 1995 Yonhap News Agency 24 November 2023 ko Naver 5th Republic (2005)'제5공화국', 12.12 장면 방송에도 시청률 하락 'The Fifth Republic', viewership ratings drop even after the December 12 scene was broadcast https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=001&aid=0001003315 16 May 2005 Yonhap News Agency 24 November 2023 ko Naver12·12 다룬 '서울의 봄'과 '제5공화국' ...뭐가 같고 뭐가 다른가 '12.12: The Day' and '5th Republic', both of which were covered on Coup d'état of December Twelfth... What's the same and what's different? https://ilyo.co.kr/?ac=article_view&entry_id=463156 29 November 2023 Ilyo Shinmun ko 30 November 2023오 유튜브에 서울의봄 올라왔는데? https://www.flayus.com/football_k/113334294 Seoul Spring was uploaded on YouTube 9 December 2023 Flayus 10 December 2023 10 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231210044600/https://www.flayus.com/football_k/113334294 dead Koreagate (1995)許和平의원,'제4공화국'.'코리아게이트' 고소 Rep. Heo Wha-pyeong sues the '4th Republic' and 'Koreagate' https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0003958024?sid=102 7 December 1995 Yonhap News Agency 24 November 2023 ko Naver Surprise Mystery TV – 12.12: The Day (2023)3 December 2023 ［신비한TV 서프라이즈］ 1979년 12월 12일, 작전명 '생일 집 잔치'. 전두환을 필두로 한 10.26 사건으로 촉발된 그날 밤의 이야기, MBC 231203 방송 ［Surprise Mystery TV］ December 12, 1979, operation name 'Birthday Home Party'. The story of that night triggered by the October 26 incident led by Chun Doo-hwan, broadcast on MBC 231203 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swT6OoS3Gac ko 10 December 2023 MBC 미스터리 : 심야괴담회 X 서프라이즈지금 서프라이즈에서 서울의 봄 스포중... https://dprime.kr/g2/bbs/board.php?bo_table=comm&wr_id=24841653 Spoilers for 12.12: The Day in Surprise... 3 December 2023 Dprime 10 December 2023 See also History of South Korea Fifth Republic of Korea References Further reading Don Oberdorfer, The Two Koreas (Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass, 1997, 0-201-40927-5, p. 121) Young, James V. Eye on Korea: An insider account of Korean-American Relations. (Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX) 2003. 978-1585442621 Category:Coups d'état in South Korea South Korea Category:1979 in South Korea Category:Fourth Republic of Korea Category:Mutinies Category:1979 conflicts