SOUTH KOREA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005632698
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: March 29, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-00766
• Publication Date: June 15, 1961

Thedominant position of
Maj. Gen. Pak Chong-hui, the
generally acknowledged leader
of the South Korean military
junta, is emphasized by his as-
sumption on 9 June of the chair-
manship of the standing committee
of the ruling Supreme Council for
National Reconstruction (SCNR).
In addition to the chairman, the
standing committee is composed
of the heads of the seven commit-
tees covering the general areas
of government administration and
appears likely to become the
focal point of power within the
SCNR.
There is considerable
evidence, however, that Pak's
authority is circumscribed by
factional divisions within the
junta. Recent voting patterns
in the 32-member Supreme Council
reveal three primary groupings,
with most junior officers looking
to Lt. Col. Kim Chong-pil for
leadership. Kimis the intelli-
gence and security boss for the
regime but is. not a member of
the Supreme Council. As SCNR
members are presently identified,
Pak is supported, by 15,,Kim by
10, and SCNR chairman Lt. Gen.,
Chang To-yong by 5. Kim has
reportedly been associated with
Pak since the earliest stages
of the coup, but recent informa-
tion has raised some question
as to his loyalty to Pak,
There have been indications.
that the regime will adopt a
harsher policy toward high offi-
cials of the former government.
Pak recently publicly charged a
number of former ministers with
Communist activities.
A number of former senior
officers--such as retired
General Chong Il-kwon, ambas-
sador-designate to the United
States--reportedly will be
given diplomatic assignments to
keep them out of the country.
One exception, however, is re-
tired Lt, Gen, Song Yo-chan,
who is studying in the United
States and has been named
minister of defense to succeed
Acting Minister Sin Ung-kyun.
Song is credited with having
avoided large-scale bloodshed
when he was army chief of staff
at the time of Rhee's ouster
last year. He is noted for
his efforts to combat military
corruption and, although he was
personally loyal to Rhee, is
believed largely to have stayed
out of politics.:.
The public at large remains
generally passive toward the
regime, but American observers
see growing apprehension among
educated urban elements. To
develop support, the junta has
announced the establishment of
a nationwide national front
movement designed to "inspire
the nation with fresh spirit,
encourage new life, and strength-
en anti-Communist ideology."
A mass rally held in Seoul on 3.2
June was scheduled to attract
some 100,000 persons. However,
a crowd of only 30,000 attended
--mostly teen-age students and
housemaids, according to press