Lease on the Blue House

Shortly after he seized power in a 1961 coup, South Korea's President Chung Hee Park revised the constitution, limiting the chief executive's tenure to two terms. Park wanted to make certain that there could never be another marathon reign like that of former President Syngman Rhee, who ruled for 13 years. Last week, after eight years in power, Park declared his intention to alter the constitution to allow himself to run in 1971 for a third term. If successful, Park would be in office until 1976--one year longer than Rhee.

Park's opponents have long feared that he was plotting to cling to the Blue House, his official mansion in Seoul. Last month the sort of student protests that brought down Rhee in 1960 erupted against Park. After rock-throwing clashes countered by tear gas, the police managed to restore order. Park's sudden announcement of his bid to stay in office may provoke new and more serious troubles. Politicians in the splintered opposition groups, students and intellectuals complain that Park has been in power too long and that his Democratic Republican Party is corrupt. Park himself remains honest, and he has been his country's most effective leader.

Supporters argue that he is needed to maintain stability and further the economy, which is growing at an annual rate of more than 10%.

In order to amend the constitution, Park must first win the approval of the National Assembly, in which his party has eight seats fewer than necessary for the two-thirds vote required. Furious bargaining is now under way with opposition members who might be induced to switch. The next step will be a national referendum on the proposed amendment. In a televised speech, Park declared that he regarded the referendum as "a vote of confidence. If the proposal is defeated, I and the government will immediately step down." He enjoys enough popularity among both people and army to make such an outcome seem unlikely. Korea has not had a peaceful transfer of power in its history, and Park seems to think that the country is not yet ready to try it.

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