South Korea is retrying the spy chief who assassinated Park Chung-hee

[ad_1] Watch: 1979 information report on the assassination of President Park Chung-hee

Two gunshots.

That's how Yoo Seok-sul begins recounting the evening of Friday, 26 October, 1979.

A former safety guard within the Korea Central Intelligence Company, or KCIA, because the South's spy division was identified, Yoo has many tales to inform. However that is maybe probably the most notorious.

He remembers the time - almost 19:40 - and the place he had been sitting - within the break room. He was resting after his shift guarding the doorway to the low-rise compound the place President Park Chung-hee entertained his most trusted lieutenants. They known as it the "secure home".

In his 70s now, wiry with sharp eyes, Yoo speaks hesitantly at first - nevertheless it comes again to him shortly. After the primary photographs, extra gunfire adopted, he says. The guards have been on excessive alert however they waited outdoors for orders. The president's safety element was inside, together with the KCIA's prime brokers.

Then Yoo's boss, a KCIA officer who oversaw safety for the secure home, stepped outdoors. "He came to visit and requested me to bury one thing within the backyard." It was two weapons, bullets and a pair of footwear. Flustered, Yoo adopted orders, he says.

He didn't know who had been shot, and he did not ask.

"I by no means imagined that it was the president."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fcf8/live/c6b85e70-6168-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="National Archives of Korea Kim Jae-kyu sitting between soldiers during the trial in 1979" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Nationwide Archives of Korea Kim Jae-kyu in army court docket through the trial in 1979

The weapons Yoo buried have been used to assassinate Park Chung-hee, who had dominated South Korea for the earlier 18 years, longer than any president earlier than or since. The person who shot him was his long-time buddy Kim Jae-gyu, who ran the much-feared KCIA, a pillar of Park's dictatorship.

That Friday shook South Korea, ending Park Chung-hee's stifling rule and ushering in one other decade underneath the army. Kim was executed for revolt, together with 5 others.

Now, 46 years later, that evening is again within the highlight as a court docket retries Kim Jae-gyu to find out if his actions amounted to treason. He has remained a deeply polarising determine - some see him as a killer blinded by energy and ambition, others as a patriot who sacrificed himself to set South Korea on the trail to democracy. The president he killed is not any much less divisive, lauded for his nation's financial rise and reviled for his authoritarian rule.

Kim's household fought for the retrial, arguing that he can't be remembered as a traitor. They may now have their day within the Seoul Excessive Courtroom - hearings started on Wednesday - simply as impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol goes on trial for a similar cost that despatched Kim to the gallows.

Yoon's martial regulation order final December was short-lived nevertheless it threw up questions on South Korean democracy - and which will affect how the nation sees a person who shot lifeless a dictator he claimed was on the point of unleashing carnage.

Was Kim making an attempt to grab energy for himself or to spark a revolution, as he claimed in court docket?

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2467/live/474b1a50-6169-11f0-9057-411bb960d45c.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Park Chung-hee standing in front of a painting a flower vase " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures Park Chung-hee dominated South Korea for 18 years

When information of the taking pictures broke within the morning, it despatched shockwaves by means of South Korea. Preliminary studies known as it "unintentional".

What was left of Park's coterie tried to make sense of what had occurred. Kim had been an in depth ally since Park seized energy in a coup in 1961. They shared a hometown and had began out collectively on the army academy.

Veteran journalist Cho Gab-je acknowledges that Kim appeared uncomfortable with a few of Park's actions, however "there is not any file that Kim truly acted on these issues, no proof he launched political prisoners, clashed with Park, or submitted formal objections".

Kim advised the court docket he had thought of killing Park a minimum of 3 times. However historical past exhibits he supported Park as he tightened his grip, abolishing direct presidential elections and time period limits, permitting him to regulate the Nationwide Meeting and even droop constitutional rights.

"My brother was by no means the type of one that would commit such an act simply to develop into president," insists his sister Kim Jung-sook, who's now 86.

However he ran the KCIA, which was infamous for jailing, torturing and even framing harmless college students, dissidents and opposition figures with false prices.

"They tortured individuals, fabricated prices, and imprisoned them… and when you criticised that, you'd get arrested too," says Father Ham Se-woong, who was imprisoned twice within the Nineteen Seventies for criticising the federal government.

Kim was not a saviour many may settle for. However that's the mantle he took on, in response to court docket transcripts that weren't extensively reported on the time. He advised the judges he believed it was crucial to cease Park, whose ruthlessness may plunge South Korea into chaos and value them a crucial ally, the US.

"I don't want to beg for my life, as I've discovered a trigger to die for," he mentioned, though he requested the court docket to spare his males who adopted his orders - "harmless sheep", he known as them. He mentioned he had hoped to pave the best way for a peaceable transition of energy, which had eluded his nation up to now.

On listening to about this again then, even a fierce critic like Father Ham tried launching a marketing campaign for him. "He needed to stop additional bloodshed. That is why we needed to save him," he says.

Father Ham ended up in jail once more for his efforts, because the trial grew to become a delicate topic. The nation was underneath martial regulation. Days after the trial began - on December 12 - the person who led the investigation into the assassination, Common Chun Doo-hwan, seized energy in a coup.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f692/live/f0997140-6193-11f0-b8a7-b5df5f3cc858.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Suhnwook Lee/ BBC News A grey-haired Kim Jung-sook in a white blouse in front of stacked bookshelves." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Suhnwook Lee/ BBC Information Kim Jung-sook has been preventing for years for a retrial of her brother's case

Proceedings within the army court docket moved at lightning pace. On 20 December, it convicted Kim of making an attempt to grab energy by means of homicide, and 6 others of aiding him. Yoo was sentenced to 3 years in jail for hiding the weapons.

By 20 Could the next yr, Kim had misplaced his remaining enchantment. 4 days later he was hanged, together with 4 others. One was spared and one other had been executed earlier. Kim died as the military brutally suppressed a pro-democracy rebellion, killing 166 civilians within the metropolis of Gwangju.

"I bought the impression that Chun Doo-hwan was making an attempt to shortly wrap up something associated to the earlier regime with a purpose to seize energy for himself," says Kim Jung-sook.

She says she noticed her brother simply as soon as by means of all this, per week earlier than he was executed: "I feel he sensed it is perhaps the final time. So he bowed deeply to my mom as a goodbye."

Yoo survived however he says after he was free, he was adopted for years: "I could not get a job. Even after I returned to my hometown, they saved tailing me. I could not say a phrase in regards to the case." He now works as an attendant in a non-public parking zone outdoors Seoul.

Ms Kim says her household didn't converse up till about 10 years in the past. After South Korea grew to become a democracy, Park's picture recovered, improved by time and wealth. His daughter grew to become president, typically defending his legacy for its financial file.

It was her downfall - following large protests over a corruption scandal - that threw open the door to revisit Kim Jae-gyu's conviction.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3c8f/live/e5e70220-615d-11f0-b2bf-c7f6526d4e26.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="National Archives of Korea Kim Jae-gyu, left, shaking hands with Park Chung-hee - both of them in suits in a black and white photo." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Nationwide Archives of Korea Kim Jae-gyu (L) and Park Chung-hee have been shut buddies

"This case ought to by no means have gone to a army court docket as a result of the assassination occurred earlier than martial regulation was declared," says Lee Sang-hee, the lawyer in command of his retrial. She provides that the "sloppy transcripts" would have influenced his enchantment as a result of the defence was not allowed to file the proceedings.

"After I reviewed the paperwork, I could not perceive how he could possibly be convicted of revolt when there was such little proof. And above all, there was torture," she says, which the court docket cited as a legitimate motive when it agreed in February to a retrial.

It accepted Kim's assertion, which he submitted in his unsuccessful enchantment in 1980, alleging "the investigators beat me indiscriminately and used electrical torture by wrapping an EE8 telephone line round my fingers".

Studies on the time alleged that Kim Jae-gyu's spouse had been detained and tortured too, alongside together with her brother-in-law and brothers, which officers on the time denied.

Now in her 90s, his spouse has at all times been against a retrial.

"She by no means talked about what she had gone by means of and trembles even now," Kim Jung-sook, the spy chief's sister, says.

Ms Kim is resolute in her defence of her brother, repeatedly emphasising that "he was a person of integrity".

"As a result of we imagine that he didn't kill the president and his safety chief for private achieve, we have now been capable of endure all of this."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/125d/live/9aca6b30-616a-11f0-9f1b-2f590c922666.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Kim family A black and white family photo of Kim Jae-gyu" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Kim household Kim Jae-gyu is the primary man standing from the left on this outdated household photograph

The safety chief was Cha Ji-cheol, who had been rising nearer to Park, and sometimes clashed with Kim as the 2 males vied for the president's ear.

Within the weeks earlier than the assassination, they differed on cope with Kim Younger-sam, an outspoken opposition chief who Park noticed as a risk. In an interview with the New York Instances, the opposition chief had known as on the US to finish Park's dictatorship. The Nationwide Meeting, managed by Park, expelled him.

The choice kicked off large protests in Kim Younger-Sam's strongholds. Cha needed to crush the rebellion, whereas Kim Jae-gyu suggested warning, which might additionally reassure a Washington that was rising impatient with Park's rule.

Kim advised the court docket he warned in opposition to firing at protesters, which might solely ignite anger - to which Cha mentioned, "three million died in Cambodia, and nothing occurred. If we kill a million demonstrators, we'll be superb".

That night on the secure home, the general public broadcaster reported that the US ambassador was going to fulfill Kim Younger-sam.

An offended Park criticised Kim Jae-gyu for not arresting the opposition chief. When Kim pushed again, the court docket heard, Park retorted: "The company ought to be feared, it ought to prosecute those that deserve it."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/06f2/live/c5b95a50-607e-11f0-85ba-0d48c6d5f2d3.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Alamy Kim holding a gun as he re-enacts the scene of the shooting, while investigating officers watch ." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Alamy Kim holding a gun as he re-enacts the scene of the taking pictures, whereas investigating officers watch

They sat throughout from one another, sipping Scotch and sharing a meal. Park sat between two ladies, a well-liked singer and a younger mannequin. Cha and Park's chief of workers have been additionally there.

The terse exchanges continued, and mid-way by means of a love music, Kim Jae-gyu mentioned, he pulled out the gun, aimed it at Park and advised him he wanted to alter his politics: "Sir, it is best to strategy issues with a extra magnanimous imaginative and prescient."

Turning to a shocked Cha, he cursed as he pulled the set off, wounding him within the hand as Cha tried to dam the shot. Then Kim fired into Park's chest. Outdoors, performing on his orders, KCIA brokers shot lifeless the president's safety element - two have been consuming dinner, and two have been on standby.

Kim tried taking pictures the president once more, however the pistol malfunctioned. He ran out to considered one of his males, who gave him a revolver. Having returned, he killed a fleeing Cha, walked in direction of Park, who was leaning in opposition to the mannequin as he bled, and shot him within the head.

The 2 ladies left unhurt after being paid to maintain quiet. The president's chief of workers was by no means focused.

Kim then went to the following constructing, the place the military chief he had summoned earlier was ready. The lads left in a automotive for KCIA headquarters.

It is seemingly he did not argue with Kim - even a shoe-less, suspiciously rattled Kim was highly effective, and his males guarded the compound. However en route he was persuaded to go to the military's headquarters, the place he was arrested quickly after midnight.

Kim advised the court docket he had deliberate to make use of the military, maybe even impose martial regulation, to finish the "revolution" and transition to democracy.

That is the crux of the retrial. The prosecution had argued it was a premeditated coup, whereas Kim claimed far loftier motives.

However sceptics level to the dearth of planning. The gun that jammed was plucked from a secure earlier than dinner, there have been sufficient witnesses to derail the plot, and he didn't appear to have a method for his "revolution". He didn't even make it to the KCIA headquarters.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/56c0/live/b3358730-616b-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Alamy A black and white photo of Kim Jae-gyu " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Alamy Kim Jae-gyu through the trial

They are saying it might properly have been an impulsive act of revenge by a person whose energy was waning.

That is what the military common investigating the murders alleged two days later - Kim, second solely to the president, had a lot to lose as Park sidelined him in favour of Cha Ji-cheol.

The next month, he additionally charged Kim with making an attempt a coup.

"For a cost of revolt to be proved, the accused should forcibly halt the operate of constitutional establishments, however that did not occur on this case," says lawyer Lee Sang-hee.

In contrast to in impeached president Yoon's case - the place the court docket will determine if he directed the army to dam parliamentary proceedings - there isn't any proof Kim Jae-gyu tried to grab management of state establishments, she argues.

For South Korea although, the retrial is greater than that. Many see it as a defining second to replicate on the trajectory of a democracy threatened simply six months in the past.

It's also a chance to re-evaluate Park Chung-hee, whose legacy some say is overstated. "His achievements have been actual, however so have been his faults," says Kim Duol, an economics professor at Myungji College. "Would South Korea's development have been attainable with out such an authoritarian regime?"

Kim's household hopes his retrial will shed a kinder mild on his legacy. Killing Park was "a painful resolution", Kim had advised the court docket, however he had "shot on the coronary heart of Yusin [the regime] with the center of a wild beast".