On this day 46 years ago, on December 12, 1979 (October 23, 1979 lunar calendar), Chun Doo-hwan launched a military coup. On December 12, 1979, Chun Doo-hwan, then the commander of the security of the South Korean Army and the head of the joint investigation headquarters of the Military Control Command, launched a military coup and took over military and political power. Chun Doo-hwan was born on January 18, 1931 in Seanchon-gun, Gyeongsang South Province. He graduated from the Army Non-commissioned Officer School and the Army University. After graduating from Daegu Technical School in 1951, he entered the Korean Army University. He served in the Korean army supporting the US military in Vietnam. In 1961, he participated in the "May 16" military coup launched by Park Chung-hee. Since 1967, he has successively served as the battalion commander of the Capital Security Division, the division commander of the 1st Infantry Division, and the commander of the Seoul Urban Defense Command. After the assassination of Park Chung-hee in October 1979, he took advantage of the chaos in the country and colluded with the young army officer Kim Jong-mi to prepare a coup. He launched a coup on December 12, arrested the commander of the military and police, Jung Seung-ho, and his cronies, and seized the military and political power in South Korea. In May of the following year, the military and police were dispatched to bloody suppress students and citizens who demanded the lifting of martial law and promoted democratization. In August of the same year, he became president, strengthening dictatorship and causing the Gwangju massacre. In January 1981, he founded the Democratic and Justice Party and served as its president. In July 1987, he was forced to resign. He was arrested for taking bribes in 1995 and sentenced to death in 1996. On May 15, 1980, 1,500 students and professors held a demonstration to demand the abolition of martial law and Chun Doo-hwan stepped down On May 15, 1980, students marching in front of Jeolanan Road Hall. On May 16, 1980, a rally was held in front of Jeolanan Road Hall. On May 16, 1980, in front of Jeolanan Road Hall. Police assist in maintaining traffic order during a street march on May 16, 1980.