May 16th Support March by the National Veterans Association

History is like a flowing river, it never stops, but sometimes it encounters a rough waterfall and changes its course. May 16, 1961, was a tumultuous moment in our modern history, a point of inflection.

While some may try to evaluate this solely by academic standards, from the perspective of patriotism that has worried about the nation's survival, the reality of the homeland was precarious. Therefore, the author is convinced that the May 16th event was not a mere change of regime, but an 'unavoidable decision to save the nation' to rescue the suffering populace and set the nation's foundation right.

The Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Ruined Livelihoods

The social landscape of South Korea at the time was one of sheer misery. In the early 1960s, South Korea's per capita GNP was only around $80. Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world, and on the land still bearing the scars of Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War, the cries of the common people were incessant.

The 'barley hump' season, which arrived every spring, was accepted as fate, and the streets were filled with people who could not bear starvation. In a state of economic dependence, the ideal of democracy was merely an empty echo for a hungry populace. From the perspective of patriotic Buddhism, a situation where the people's right to survival is threatened is an emergency where the state fails to fulfill its role.

At the Peak of Disorder and Security Threats

The Second Republic, established after the April 19 Revolution, had high democratic aspirations but had lost the control to manage social chaos. With daily protests and political infighting, administration was paralyzed, and social order was completely shaken. Especially in a situation where North Korea's constant provocations and ambitions for communist unification persisted, internal division and incompetence were driving the nation towards extinction.

The patriotic Buddhist order adheres to the value of 'nation first,' believing that there can be no religion or people without a nation. They viewed the disorder at the time not as mere chaos but as a crisis where the nation's heart was stopping, and allowing it to continue was a path to becoming a sinner of history.

The Decision, and the Dawn of Reconstruction

The May 16th event, carried out in this desperate situation, was the last choice for the nation's survival. The 'anti-communism' and 'economic reconstruction' banners raised by the coup leaders offered the following hopes to a populace trembling with hunger and anxiety.

First, the establishment of national discipline. Corruption and incompetence were eradicated, and the administrative system was reorganized to maximize the efficiency of national management.

Second, laying the foundation for economic development. The economic development plan, initiated under the slogan 'Let's live well,' became the bedrock for the subsequent 'Miracle on the Han River.'

Third, fostering a spirit of self-reliance. It instilled in the hearts of the people a spirit of self-reliance, of standing on their own feet through their own strength, moving away from a life dependent on aid.

Above all, the people responded to the leader's strong will, and the spirit of 'When the pine trees flourish, the cypresses rejoice' (송무백열) filled the entire land. This singleheartedness, that national prosperity is personal happiness, became the driving force of reconstruction.

Reflecting on the Path of Protecting the Nation and Pacifying the People

Of course, the merits and demerits of the individual Park Chung-hee cannot be separated. It is undeniable that the nostalgia for him today may be a psychological anesthetic to soothe present deficiencies. However, what we must truly reflect on is not nostalgia for past figures, but the resolute will and the spirit of national salvation that characterized that era.

The Buddha taught us not to turn away from the suffering of sentient beings. The May 16th event was a decision to end the suffering of the masses – extreme poverty and chaos at the time. Although there was the pain of the interruption of the constitutional order, history proves that it was an unavoidable measure to prevent a greater catastrophe.

The prosperity and freedom we enjoy today are possible because of the decisions made at that time and the sweat and toil of the people. Now, using the past as a mirror, we must walk the path of protecting the nation and pacifying the people without wavering when the nation faces a crisis.

The spirit of May 16th lay in the earnest sincerity of wanting to save the nation. Reflecting once again on that noble decision, I deliver the following admonition to today's society, lulled into complacency.

When the nation faces a precarious crisis, adhering only to procedures is like measuring the depth of a river while a person is drowning. To enjoy the fruits of today, grown from the seeds of past decisions, while denying those roots is to forget one's own foundation. Now, we must move beyond division and political strife towards introspection and responsibility. That is the spirit of the 21st century.

◆ Monk Eungcheon

Chief Secretary of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

First Commander of the Patriotic Monk Corps