Short Term Presidency
Rhee's government was ousted by a student-led, pro-democracy uprising in 1960; and Yun was elected president on August 13. In response to the authoritarian excesses of Rhee's regime, South Korea had switched to a parliamentary system; so in fact Yun served merely as a figurehead.
Following Park Chung Hee's coup in 1961, Yun stayed on in order to provide some legitimacy to the new regime, but resigned on March 22, 1962. In the following years, Yun received suspended sentences several times for anti-government activities. He opposed Park's authoritarian rule and ran for president twice, in 1963 and 1967, losing each time.
Yun retired from active politics in 1980 and focused his life on cultural activities until his death in 1990.
Read more about this topic: Yun Bo-seon
Famous quotes containing the words short, term and/or presidency:
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“Why did you give no hint that night
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