Choe Gyuha (최규하) (崔圭夏)(July 16, 1919 - ) (surname also spelled Choi) was the President of South Korea between 1979 and 1980. He was born in the town of Wonju, located in Gangwon-do. The Choi Administration is largely characterized by weak leadership at a time of severe political turmoil, giving room for control by a group of politically minded soldiers known as Hanahoi.
After the assassination of Park Chung Hee in 1979, Choi, the prime minister of South Korea at the time, assumed power. Because of the unrest resulting from Park's authoritarian rule, Choi promised a new constitution and democratic elections (the elections led by Park were widely seen as flawed).
In December 1979, Major General Chun Doo-hwan and close allies within the military staged a military coup against Choi's government. They quickly removed the army chief of staff and by early 1980 virtually controlled the government.
In April 1980, due to increasing pressure from Chun and other politicians, Choi appointed Chun as head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, giving him enormous power. In May, Chun declared martial law and did away with all trappings of civilian government, becoming the de facto ruler of the country. By then, student protests were escalating in Seoul and Gwangju. The protests in Gwangju continued, resulting in the Gwangju Massacre, where over 200 civilians were killed within five days by Chun's military.
Choi resigned soon afterward. Chun became president on September 1, 1980.
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