SOUTH KOREA: Yes to Chun

Voters approve a constitution

It was the largest electoral turnout in the country's 32 years of independence:

95.5% of South Korea's 20 million eligible voters. And, as expected, nearly 92% of them approved a 131-article draft constitution proposed by President Chun Doo Hwan. It guarantees South Koreans a "democratic welfare state," complete with civil rights, press freedom and carefully defined powers of the presidency— at least on paper. The referendum was the first test of Chun's popularity since he took power last December, shortly after the assassination of President Park Chung Hee. Strongman Chun, a former general, and his U.S.-educated Prime Minister, Nam Duck Woo, worked hard to ensure a heavy voter turnout. Roving "enlightenment teams" explained details of the new constitution at more than 3,600 local meetings. The President would be limited to a single seven-year term, for example; any slide toward dictatorship would be checked by new powers granted to the National Assembly.

At a press conference last week, Chun said that he would dissolve South Korea's existing parties in order to foster a new multiparty system. Having only two par ties, he said, resulted in "polarization."

The legal reforms include restoration of the writ of habeas corpus. Unfortunately, that comes too late to help Chun's political enemies, like Opposition Leader Kim Dae Jung, who is now appealing a death sentence on sedition charges.

Chun admitted that many South Koreans are skeptical of his new-found reformist role. He believes he can reverse the "trend of distrust" by setting a time table for return to civilian rule. He promised that martial law will be lifted in time for the presidential election in March, a month before a new National Assembly will be chosen.

In their yearning for stability, most South Koreans seem ready to accept Chun's ruthless purge of his enemies and his jailing of student leaders. Meanwhile, Chun will continue to push his popular reforms: crackdown on government corruption, reorganization of lagging industries, encouragement of foreign investment.

Having made himself South Korea's best — and only — bet since Park's death, Chun is virtually assured of winning the presidency in March. Said one foreign businessman in Seoul after the constitutional vote: "The people know Chun and his government mean business. And you can't gain any thing by opposing them." ∙