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Assassination of Park Chung Hee

SOLVED1979KCIA safe house near the Blue House presidential compound, Jongno District, Seoul3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · torture — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

On 26 October 1979, Park Chung Hee, the third president of South Korea, was shot and killed during a dinner at a Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) safe house near the Blue House presidential compound in the Jongno District of Seoul. According to the source account, it was the first assassination of a head of state on the Korean peninsula in 605 years. The killing is widely known in South Korea as the "10.26 incident."

By the time of his death, Park had held dictatorial power for nearly 18 years. The KCIA, created in 1961, was used to suppress domestic opposition through wiretapping, arrests, and torture. After nearly losing the 1971 election to Kim Dae-jung, Park established the 1972 Yushin Constitution, which removed presidential term limits, allowed him to appoint one-third of the National Assembly, and authorized emergency decrees. Opposition persisted, and in October 1979 the expulsion of opposition leader Kim Young-sam from the National Assembly triggered mass protests in Busan and Masan that the government suppressed.

A rivalry had developed between KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu, appointed in December 1976, and chief presidential bodyguard Cha Ji-chul, appointed in 1974. The two clashed over how to handle the growing unrest, with Cha favoring a hardline response that Park endorsed.

On the evening of 26 October, Park attended a banquet at the safe house with Kim Jae-gyu, Cha Ji-chul, chief secretary Kim Gye-won, and two women. During the meal, discussion turned to the demonstrations and to Kim Young-sam. At about 7:40 p.m., Kim Jae-gyu opened fire, wounding Cha and shooting Park in the chest before his pistol jammed; he returned with a second weapon and shot both men again. Coordinated by Kim, other KCIA agents killed Cha, three presidential bodyguards, and a presidential chauffeur. In total, six people were killed.

In the aftermath, Kim Jae-gyu sought support from Army Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa for a declaration of martial law but did not disclose that he had shot the president. Park's body was taken to an army hospital, where his death was confirmed. Late that night, Kim Gye-won identified Kim Jae-gyu as responsible, and shortly after midnight on 27 October Kim Jae-gyu was arrested. Martial law was declared across the country except Jeju Island. During the ensuing investigation, led by Chun Doo-hwan's Security Command, Chun rose as a new political power.

The source states that those involved were arrested and later executed. Park Heung-ju was executed by firing squad on 6 March 1980, and five others, including Kim Jae-gyu, were hanged on 24 May 1980. Kim Gye-won's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and he was released in 1982. In 2020, Kim Jae-gyu's family sought a retrial; the court approved it in February 2025, and the retrial began in mid-July 2025. The source notes continuing controversy over whether the assassination was a planned coup or an impulsive act.

Key facts

Victims
Park Chung Hee, Ahn Jae-song, Jeong In-hyeong, Cha Ji-chul
Date
1979
Location
KCIA safe house near the Blue House presidential compound, Jongno District, Seoul
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1961

    The Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) is created.

  2. 1971

    President Park narrowly wins re-election against Kim Dae-jung.

  3. 1972

    Park establishes the Yushin Constitution, removing presidential term limits and expanding his powers.

  4. 1976-12

    Kim Jae-gyu is appointed director of the KCIA.

  5. 1979-10-05

    The Democratic Republican Party expels opposition leader Kim Young-sam from the National Assembly.

  6. 1979-10-16

    Democracy protests break out in Busan against Park's rule.

  7. 1979-10-19

    Demonstrations spread to Masan and other cities.

  8. 1979-10-26

    Park Chung Hee is shot and killed by Kim Jae-gyu at a KCIA safe house in Seoul; five others are also killed.

  9. 1979-10-27

    Kim Jae-gyu is arrested after midnight, and martial law is declared nationwide except Jeju Island.

  10. 1980-03-06

    Park Heung-ju is executed by firing squad.

  11. 1980-05-24

    Kim Jae-gyu and four co-conspirators are hanged at Seoul Detention Center.

  12. 2020-05-26

    Kim Jae-gyu's family files a retrial request with the Seoul High Court.

  13. 2025-02-19

    The Seoul High Court approves a retrial of Kim Jae-gyu.

  14. 2025-07

    The retrial of Kim Jae-gyu commences in the Seoul High Court.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Lee Ki-ju

    CONVICTED

    Head of the safe house security service and conspirator; hanged on 24 May 1980.

    citation on file

  • Jeong Seung-hwa

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Army Chief of Staff who became chief martial law administrator after the assassination.

    citation on file

  • Kim Gye-won

    CONVICTED

    Presidential chief secretary; sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment, and released in 1982.

    citation on file

  • Kim Jae-gyu

    CONVICTED

    Director of the KCIA who shot President Park; hanged on 24 May 1980. A retrial was approved in 2025.

    citation on file

  • Kim Tae-won

    CONVICTED

    Safe house security agent involved in the planning; hanged on 24 May 1980.

    citation on file

  • Park Chung Hee

    VICTIM

    Third president of South Korea; shot and killed during the banquet at the KCIA safe house.

    citation on file

  • Yoo Seong-ok

    CONVICTED

    KCIA safe house driver and conspirator; hanged on 24 May 1980.

    citation on file

  • Chun Doo-hwan

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Head of the Security Command, ordered to take Kim Jae-gyu into custody and investigate the incident.

    citation on file

  • Seo Young-jun

    CONVICTED

    Safe house security agent; sentenced to life imprisonment and released after serving 17 years.

    citation on file

  • Park Seon-ho

    CONVICTED

    Senior KCIA agent and conspirator; hanged on 24 May 1980.

    citation on file

  • Park Heung-ju

    CONVICTED

    Secretary to the KCIA director and conspirator; executed by firing squad on 6 March 1980.

    citation on file

  • Ahn Jae-song

    VICTIM

    Presidential security official shot and killed in the safe house.

    citation on file

  • Jeong In-hyeong

    VICTIM

    Presidential security chief shot and killed in the safe house.

    citation on file

  • Cha Ji-chul

    VICTIM

    Chief presidential bodyguard and head of the presidential security service; fatally shot during the assassination.

    citation on file

Places

KCIA safe house near the Blue House presidential compound, Jongno District, Seoul

37.5866, 126.9749

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 26 October 1979, Park Chung Hee, the third president of South Korea, was shot and killed by KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu during a dinner at a KCIA safe house in Seoul.
Where did the crime happen?
KCIA safe house near the Blue House presidential compound, Jongno District, Seoul.
Who was convicted?
Lee Ki-ju (Head of the safe house security service and conspirator; hanged on 24 May 1980.), Kim Gye-won (Presidential chief secretary; sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment, and released in 1982.), Kim Jae-gyu (Director of the KCIA who shot President Park; hanged on 24 May 1980. A retrial was approved in 2025.), Kim Tae-won (Safe house security agent involved in the planning; hanged on 24 May 1980.), Yoo Seong-ok (KCIA safe house driver and conspirator; hanged on 24 May 1980.), Seo Young-jun (Safe house security agent; sentenced to life imprisonment and released after serving 17 years.), Park Seon-ho (Senior KCIA agent and conspirator; hanged on 24 May 1980.), and Park Heung-ju (Secretary to the KCIA director and conspirator; executed by firing squad on 6 March 1980.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.

Sources

  1. Assassination of Park Chung Heewikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-05
  2. BBC News 'On This Day', 26 October 1979: a recollection of Park Chung Hee's assassinationnews · BBC News · 2026-07-05
  3. U.S. Recalls Envoy to Protest S. Korean Political Crackdownnews · The Washington Post · 2026-07-05

Last verified JUL 2026

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