역대 대통령 = Former (succession of) presidents.  이승만 (1948-1960) :   First President of t

역대 대통령 = Former (succession of) presidents. 

이승만 (1948-1960) :   First President of the Republic of Korea (1948-1960). Led through the Korean War, anti-communist, popular. Changed the consitution to extend his term. Fell out of favor and forced to resign in the April Revolution of 1960 and died in exile in Hawaii in 1965.

박정희 (1963-1979) : Took power in the May 16 military coup in 1961. Industrialized South Korea and improved the economy, contributed to constructing modern South Korea, aiming to beat the North through economic strength. On the other side, he was authoritarian and heavy-handed, with inhumane censorship and dictatorship. Survived two assassination attempts then assassinated by the director of KoreanCIA. 

전두환 (1980-1988) : Also a military general, seized power, focused on economic stability, technological R&D, held the first Olympics and infrastructure improvements. Responsible for the military’s brutal role in suppressing the Gwangju Democratization Movement and found guilty of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars.  

김영삼 (1993-1998) : 25 years old, young civilian president, fought for political reform, anti-corruption in government, etc. However, he was inexperience in economic matters, pursuing OECD membership instead. North/South relations at an all time low, on the brink of nuclear war. His presidency came to an apex with the 1997 IMF Crisis. 

김대중 (1998-2003) : Referred to as the ‘Nelson Mandela of Asia’. Life-long freedom fighter, studied and lived in the US. Resolved the IMF Crisis. Brought back focus to the sunshine policy, made histroical progress in North/South relations, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. However, his economic policies were short-term and short-sided, and his administration was believed to be the most corrupt in modern Korean history. 

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