The fifth Republic of South Korea was the government of South Korea from March 1981 to December 1987. The fifth republic was established in March 1981 by Chun Doo-hwan, a military colleague of long-time president and dictator Park Chung-hee, after the political instability and military rule in the fourth republic since the assassination of Park in October 1979. The fifth republic was ruled by Chun and the Democratic Justice Party as a de facto dictatorship and one-party state to extensively reform South Korea for democratization and dismantle the autocratic system of Park. The fifth republic faced growing opposition from the democratization movement of the Gwangju Uprising, and the June Democracy Movement of 1987 resulted in the election of Roh Tae-woo in the December 1987 presidential election. The fifth republic was dissolved three days after the election upon the adoption of a new constitution that laid the foundations for the relatively stable democratic system of the current sixth Republic of Korea. History Background Park Chung-hee had served as the leader of South Korea since July 1961, during which he was a de facto military dictator and maintained his near-absolute power through legal and illegal channels. Park originally came to power as Chairman of the Supreme Council of National Reconstruction two months after the May 16 coup (which he had led) overthrew the Second Republic of Korea. The Supreme Council established a provisional military junta government that prioritized the economic development of South Korea, but faced strong pressure from the United States to restore civilian rule. In 1963, Park abdicated from his military position to run as a civilian in the October 1963 presidential election, defeating the incumbent President Yun Posun and inaugurating the Third Republic of Korea two months later in December. The Third Republic was presented as a return to civilian government under the National Assembly, but in reality was a continuation of Park's military dictatorship and the government was predominantly members of the Supreme Council. Park won re-election in the 1967 presidential election, and the National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that allowed him to serve a third term, which he won in the 1971 presidential election against Kim Dae-jung. In December 1971, Park declared a state of emergency. On 10 October 1972, Park launched a self-coup known as the October Restoration, dissolving the National Assembly, suspending the constitution, and declaring martial law across the country. Park commissioned work