@article{ART003315146},
author={Byeon Seong Ho},
title={May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2026},
volume={83},
number={1},
pages={475-510}
TY - JOUR
AU - Byeon Seong Ho
TI - May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2026
VL - 83
IS - 1
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 475
EP - 510
SN - 1598-3021
AB - The May 16 event was a military coup, yet it was perceived as a “revolution” by many Koreans in the early 1960s. Since the April Revolution, the military had been understood as a part of and a contributor to the ‘revolution’, and May 16 occurred amidst public disappointment and dissatisfaction caused by the misgovernance of the Second Republic. Regarding May 16, which had advocated the name “Military Revolution” from the beginning, many students, scholars, journalists, and even some politicians viewed it as an event that could complete the unfinished April 19 Revolution. Pledges promising a swift transition to civilian rule fostered such beliefs. May 16 was able to strengthen its claim as a revolution by utilizing the revolutionary discourse of the preceding April 19 “revolution”. While the intellectual class in 1961 supported May 16 as a revolution, they did not naively expect the military to resolve Korea’s various chronic problems in the short term. The discourse of the May 16 Revolution in the early 1960s cannot be judged solely by coercion from above; it was a product of the era, formed by a combination of economic dissatisfaction after April 19, a sense of security crisis, distrust of established politicians, and trust in the military.
KW - 5 · 16;4 · 19;Discourse of Revolution;Coup d’État
DO -
UR -
ER -
Byeon Seong Ho. (2026). May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 83(1), 475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho. 2026, "May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.83, no.1 pp.475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho "May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83.1 pp.475-510 (2026) : 475.
Byeon Seong Ho. May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s. 2026; 83(1), 475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho. "May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83, no.1 (2026) : 475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho. May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 83(1), 475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho. May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2026; 83(1) 475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho. May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s. 2026; 83(1), 475-510.
Byeon Seong Ho. "May 16 as an Extension of April 19: Discourse on the May 16 Coup as a Revolution in the Early 1960s" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 83, no.1 (2026) : 475-510.
