Development of the national security strategy of the Republic of Korea during the presidency of Park Chung-hee (1961–1979)

The article examines the policy of the Republic of Korea (ROK)’s leadership in the field of national security during the presidency of Park Chung-hee, as well as its impact on the domestic political situation in the country. The complex geopolitical situation made ensuring state security one of the key challenges facing the new leadership of Seoul. In the early stages of Park Chung-hee’s presidency the government emphasized the existence of a potential threat to the state from the communist movement. The national security strategy included measures to counter both a full-scale military invasion by the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) into the territory of the Republic of Korea and the activities of North Korean intelligence agents within the state. This state of affairs allowed the authorities to take steps that involved restricting civil and political liberties. During the second half of Park Chung-hee's presidency, the authorities began to more closely monitor potential sources of threats. Changes to the legislation allowed the country's leadership to counter the growth of mass anti-government protests and to accuse any political opponent of anti-state activity. A number of incidents demonstrated the government's readiness to take measures to directly eliminate individuals it considered a threat to state security. The source base of the research was the works of Park Chung-hee, other official documents, speeches and interviews of the head of state, information from the South Korean press, and materials from human rights organizations.