Back to the Barracks

Sensational as it was, the Kim-Choi scandal had to share the headlines with another story. After his swift coup in May 1961, General Park Chung Hee pledged that his 32-man junta would go back to the barracks "when all revolutionary tasks have been accomplished." The strongman, who so far has done an impressive job of ridding South Korea of corruption and creating a measure of economic stability, last week published a draft constitution that will restore civilian rule by next summer. But when Park goes back to the barracks, it will be merely to change into civvies and go on running things as before.

Like Pakistan's Ayub Khan, one of his heroes, Park has a soldier's contempt for politicians, would not dream of letting them ruin his work with their "parliamentary impotency." In addition to a popularly elected President, who will be chosen in March to a four-year term, the new constitution provides for a Premier whose role is limited to liaison man be tween the President and a unicameral legislature of 150 to 200 members who will have no veto powers over the executive. The President, on the other hand, is given enough power to make Charles de Gaulle look like a front man. Foremost candidate for the job: Park Chung Hee.

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