The Heat's Off

Ever since he lifted his ban on civilian political activity last January, the heat has been on South Korean Strongman General Park Chung Hee. Anger over the strong-arm tactics of the feared Central Intelligence Agency forced Park to sack his top hatchet man (and nephew by marriage), C.I.A. Boss Kim Chong Pil. Investigations revealed wholesale corruption within South Korea's C.I.A., and charges were leveled that Park had done nothing to relieve South Korea's economic chaos. Threatened with civil war by disaffected members of his own military junta, Park reluctantly bowed out of the forthcoming civilian presidential race.

Last week the general decided to turn off the heat. Reneging on his promise to restore civilian rule, Park slapped a ban on all political parties, prohibited "political agitation" in the press, jailed 30 plotters--including some former junta members--accused of trying to overthrow his regime. Ignoring the resignation of his Cabinet, Park suspended next May's scheduled elections, announced that the populace instead would vote in a new referendum designed to keep him in absolute power for another four years.

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