Historical Analysis Short Essay (Book Report Sample)

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY: SOUTH KOREA Student’s Name Course Number: Course Name Due Date Historical Analysis Essay: South Korea The week’s reading provides significant trends and events in the political dimensions of South Korea across the 20th century. One of the events is the unarmed rebellion of 1919, where South Koreans sought to liberate themselves from Japanese colonialism. Although the rebellion was unsuccessful, things started changing in 1945 as the Japanese left South Korea before attaining full independence in 1948. After independence, South Korea suffered political instability. The incompetent government of Chang Myon that lasted for a year from 1960 to 1961 vindicates the political chaos. Although the public welcomed the military coup that overthrew the incompetent administration, most were skeptical about democracy.[Marshall R. Pihl, Bruce Fulton, and Ju-Chan Fulton, Land of Exile: Contemporary Korean Fiction (East Gate Book, 1993), 50.] ["South Korea: Creating a Democratic Society, 1953 to 1997," in ( n.d.), 201.] Due to political unrest in South Korea, the US deployed military troops to help restore peace and order. In 1971, President Nixon expressed willingness to withdraw troops deployed in South Korea. After withdrawal, South Korea was not safe due to economic upheavals due to the disturbance of the trade agreement with the US that was shaping textile export. Such problems influenced Park’s decision to suspend the country’s constitution and declare an emergency. In 1972, Park institutionalized martial law, dissolved the constitution and restricted political activities. During Park’s leadership, the country experienced more punitive measures during the Yushin era, including the Emergency Measure of 1975.[“South Korea,” 203.] The leadership of Park was short-lived following his assassination in 1979, paving the way for the Seoul spring. The period, lasting for a year, from 1979 to 1980, was marked by political openness. After assuming office following Park's assassination, the new leader Chun experienced several challenges due to unpopularity and lack of leadership attributes. Regardless, Chan employed economic strategies that encouraged economic recovery in 1981. South Korea also benefitted from hosting the 1988 Olympic Games, which boosted its economy. Despite the political unrest since independence, 1987 was a critical turning point for South Korea’s politics. However, protests by university students and activists were still part of the country’s politics. Through the years that followed, So...