CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005632703
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: March 29, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-00766
• Publication Date: June 1, 1961

South Korea's revolutionary
leaders are providing increasing
evidence that they envision an
extended period of military rule.
The regime is moving to bring
all social and political organi-
zations under its control and
appears to be moving toward a
controlled economy. Brigadier
General Kim Yun-kun, commander
of the marine unit which partic-
ipated in the coup and a member
of the ruling Supreme Council
for National Construction, has
stated that the junta intends to
develop a group of young civil-
ian leaders to whom it will give
control of the government "pos-
sibly after two years."
Factional differences with-
in the junta leadership are much
in evidence, and lines of com-
mand between moderate senior of-
ficers and their more rash
juniors are becoming increasing-
ly uncertain. Tension between
Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Chang To-yong and coup strong-
man Maj. Gen. Pak Chong-hui may
be approaching a climax, with
the ouster of one or the other
from the ruling junta reported
possible before the end of the
month. Chang is credited with
being a moderating influence on
the insurgent leadership and is
believed to favor a relatively
early return to civilian govern-
ment.
The clique of young colonels
surrounding Pak favor prolonged
military rule. The Supreme Coun-
cil has been expanded and reor-
ganized to provide them with
greater representation. As a
group, the colonels are extreme-
ly nationalistic and eager to
undertake extehstve reforms but
they lack positive plans or ad-
ministrative training. Should
the regime fail to win public
support, these junior officers
probably will push for increas-
ingly repressive measures against
any opposition.
Foreign Minister Kim Hong-
il informed the American chargC
on 27 May that the regime was
drafting a "provisional" consti-
tution to "legalize" the trans-
fer oP power to the Supreme Coun-
cil. The."provisional" constitu-
tion--which may be dignified by
a popular referendum--is intended
to provide a legal basis for the
extraconstitutional actions of
the regime while preserving the
appearance of continuity of gov-
ernment. The military leaders
Pear that unless such continuity
is maintained--the Rhee govern-
ment was recognized by the UN
resolutions of 1950 and 1951--
Seoul's claim to be the only
legitimate Korean government
will appear no more valid than
that of Pyongyang.
Generals and one admiral
have been appointed governors
of all provinces and mayor oP
Seoul. The regime is seeking
some 500 field officers to staff
national and local government
administrative posts down to
and including the county level.
Former Lieutenant General Kang
Mun-poing--a follower of the pro-
posed ambassador to the United
States, retired General Chong
I1-kwon--has been ordered to or-
ganize an extreme right-wing
veterans group to support the
revolutionary government.
Twelve leading businessmen
accused of accumulating "illegal
fortunes" have been ordered ar-
rested, possibly as a sop to
public economic and social dis-
content.
the coup
has restored police morale,
 shattered by the fall of the
Rhee government last year. The
police can now concentrate on
their normal law-enforcement
duties, since military intelli-
gence organs are largely taking
over the investigation of do-
mestic political activities.
Public reaction to the new
regime continues to be'largely
passive, with known opponents
reluctant to speak up for fear
of possible repression. Stu=? :.
dents, who toppled the Rhee gov-
ernment in 1960, appear to be
about evenly divided for and
against the coup. Many have been
impressed by the speed and effi-
ciency of the military in moving
to clean up government corrup-
tion and other obvious:.manifes-
tations of bureaucratic ineffi-
ciency. Some, however, are be-
coming increasingly concerned
over limitations placed on
academic freedom. Should re-
pressions continue, student
.elements may be moved to take
bolder action calling for a
'an government.