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South Korean Nationalism And The Legacy Of Park Chung Hee: How Nationalism Shaped Park’S Agendas And The Future Korean Sociopolitical Landscape, Brandon L. Santos

Chadron State Graduate Theses

Park Chung Hee (presidential term: 1961-1979) is, arguably, the most significant leader in the Korean Peninsula’s modern history. His governance has many trademark elements that have been thoroughly analyzed. These include his economic plans and violent dealings against his political opposition. One often overlooked variable, however, is the significant traces of early Korean nationalism (1890s-1930s) that defined his regime. Park employed these ideas, although controversial, to completely change a nation that was teetering on the brink of destruction into what is now, one of the most well-known republics in the world – economically, technologically, and culturally. It is important, therefore, …