SOUTH KOREA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005641951
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: March 29, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-00766
• Publication Date: May 25, 1961

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2 5 May.1961
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the UNC military posture in South Korea. While there is no evi-
dence of North Korean military preparations to take advantage
of the unsettled situation, dissension within the coup group could
make the ROK increasingly susceptible to Communist propaganda
enced commanders, and the failure of the military regime to
restore to CINCUNC operational control over some elements
of the ROK armed forces have at least temporarily impaired
Army officers to CINCUNC direction, the relief of experi-
National Reconstruction. Continued lack of response by ROK
ened by increasing factionalism in the Supreme Council for
ability of the new government in South Korea is thread-
May reached the following conclusion concerning South Korea.
South Korea: /he watch committee at its meeting on 24
and subveruo
n.
25 May 61
(Backup, Page 4
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 The Supreme Council for National Reconstruction (SCNR)
is continuing efforts to promote popular support for the mili-
tary regime. The thoroughness of the.campaign was indicated
by the details announced in the South Korean press concerning
the demonstration held in Taegu on 22 May. Organizers are
reported to have required that each household provide one
participant; factories were ordered closed so that all employees
could attend; all businessmen were ordered to be present. The
groups from each precinct were required to bring two placards
displaying approved slogans. About 35,000 people were present
at the Taegu demonstration, but the rally was described as
lackluster. The American Embassy reports that although
there is evidence of "increasing disenchantment" on the part
of educated persons and students, general public attitudes
range from "acceptance of the coup and military rule to be-
wildered confusion as to changes."
Of the persons reported arrested since the coup, over 600
are politicians, 540 are teachers, but only 70 are students,
bearing out previous indications that the regime intended to
handle the student problem cautiously. The arrest of the poli-
ticians muzzles such potential opposition leaders as former
speaker of the lower house Kwak Sang-hun, and vice speaker
So Min-ho. Foreign Minister Kim Hyong-il told American
Charge Green yesterday he had discussed the matter of the
arrest of political leaders with the SCNR and that he was making
efforts to get at least the members of the Chang Myon cabinet
returned to their homes soon. Lieutenant General Chang To-
yong also told Charge Green yesterday that political arrests
would soon be stopped and that certain persons who had been
arrested would be released after they had been screened and
cleared; he said that members of the Chang cabinet, with one
or two exceptions, would be taken from jail and put under house
arrest:
ir Force chief Lieutenant General Kim Shin told the Ameri-
can air attache in Seoul on 22 May that regime leaders Chang
To-yong and Pak Chong-hui had informed him the military
25 May 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 4
 Eo-Iff under arrest might be shown some consideration when
the situation was stabilized. However, he said that Lieutenant
General Yi Han-lim, former commander of the First ROK Army,
was an exception and his punishment probably would be severe.
Yi's loyalty is especially suspected by the new regime because
of his delay in announcing full support for the coin
The revolutionary government extended its controls to
the provincial and municipal levels on 24 May by appointing
nine general officers as governors and nine lower-ranking
officers as mayors of cities. Field artillery units involved
in the coup are reported to have returned to their previous
front-line positions, but the four other major units withdrawn
from their tactical positions were still in Seoul late yesterday.
Depressed business conditions are continuing as a result
of the limitation on bank withdrawals to approximately $700
per month. This limitation has almost stopped the movement
of goods from manufacturers to retailers, and retail business
is largely limited to the purchase of daily essentials. Bank
of Korea officials report that administrative confusion is mount-
ing over handling financial transactions. They are pressing
for the removal of the cash withdrawal limit, or at least for
permission to clear checks without regard to the limit. Strict
measures to control prices and the arrest of grain "profiteers"
as well as the distribution of government-controlled grains
have decreased the retail prices of rice and barley below the
pre-coup level.
Q ~ ~ n r+
JE\. RC-T-
25 May 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 5