The only book recommended to those curious about the historical truth of December 12th!

A book that reconstructs the day of December 12, 1979, which changed the history of the Republic of Korea, through the testimonies and photographs of 100 people involved.
In 1993, after President Kim Young-sam took office, the author, who was a reporter for the Hankook Ilbo at the time of the surprise investigation into the December 12 military coup and the purge of the Hanahoe, conducted in-depth interviews and reports on over 100 people related to the December 12 coup, including key figures Jeong Seung-hwa and Jang Tae-wan, and serialized the story in the newspaper for a year. The records from that time became the basis for this book, “12/12.”

This book vividly depicts the tense situation of December 12, 1979, using the reporter's characteristic reporting and writing skills. It not only reconstructs the historical scene in three dimensions, but also captures the vivid voices of those most involved, conveying the truth of that day as it was. To aid readers of the MZ generation's understanding, a prologue and epilogue provide a look into the context surrounding the December 12 military coup, and the book is rich in detailed annotations and relevant photographs.

The fact that the film “Spring in Seoul,” which clearly showed that the December 12 Incident was a military rebellion by the new military regime of Chun Doo-hwan, caused such a stir is significant.
The meaning is clear.
The fact is that no matter how much the surviving members of the December 12 military rebellion and those with biased historical perceptions try to go against history, the people will not tolerate it.
It is also very interesting that more than half of the moviegoers were young people born after the December 12 Incident.
After watching the movie, they say they searched for information to learn more about the December 12 Incident and created social media groups to share knowledge and information and hold discussions.
It was to respond to this fervor and atmosphere that I published this newly revised book, which focuses on the truth about December 12.
Since the movie "Spring in Seoul" is a work of fiction, many viewers are curious about how much of it is based on real events.
Due to time constraints, some parts have been omitted.
This book will greatly quench that curiosity and thirst for facts.

--- p.5, from “Publishing a Book”

In order to uncover the truth behind the 12/12 incident, it is necessary to examine in detail the circumstances and nature of the 30th Security Brigade meeting at Gyeongbokgung Palace, known by the code name "Birthday Party."
It was around December 5th that the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Chun Doo-hwan faction made the final decision to arrest and question Army Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa, the martial law commander.
Chief of the Joint Investigation Headquarters, Chun Doo-hwan, felt that the power of the Joint Investigation Headquarters alone was not enough to arrest the Army Chief of Staff and Martial Law Commander, and felt the need to organize a strong support force.
So, what was arranged was the 30th Security Brigade meeting.

--- p.64, 「3.
From the military rebellion code 'Birthday Party'

The sudden, powerful sound of rifle fire shattered the tranquility of the early evening.
It was exactly 7:20 pm.
The gunshots were heard from the Jang Gwan-gwan village on the hillside of Hannam-dong.
Surprised passersby looked around, their chests tight, not knowing what was going on.
At that moment, two black passenger cars sped out of the main entrance of the official residence, immediately turned right, weaved between the cars ahead, and disappeared from sight in an instant.
It was about 7 minutes after the gunshots were heard.
This is how the December 12 Incident, which changed the course of modern Korean history, began.

--- p.75, 「4.
From "Gunshots in Hannam-dong"

Around 7:40 PM, just before the emergency declaration, at a restaurant in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul.
Special Warfare Command Commander Major General Jeong Byeong-ju, Capital Defense Command Commander Major General Jang Tae-wan, Military Police Commander Brigadier General Kim Jin-gi, Security Command Chief of Staff Brigadier General Woo Guk-il, and Capital Defense Command Military Police Command Commander Colonel Cho Hong were having a dinner meeting.
The host of the dinner was former Security Command Commander Chun Doo-hwan, who was the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

--- p.113, 「7.
From "The entire military is on high alert"

If Commander Jeong Byeong-ju had informed the 9th Airborne Brigade of the details of the incident from the beginning and continued to encourage their deployment, the 9th Airborne Brigade would have crossed the Han River, and the December 12 incident would have unfolded in a completely different way.
That night, the Joint Investigation Team faced several critical crises, but each time, the goddess of fate smiled on them.
The crisis surrounding the 9th Airborne Brigade's deployment and return was one such example.
Upon receiving the report of the 9th Airborne Brigade's return, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief Jeon Du-hwan jumped up from his seat and asked, "Really? Who's the Chief of Staff?"
“Shin Soo-ho? Which base?” he asked with a smile.
Other generals from the Joint Chiefs of Staff also cheered and rejoiced.
Color finally began to appear on their faces.
This scene supports how surprised they were by the news of the 9th Airborne Brigade's deployment.

--- p.221, 「16.
From "The blockade of troops made possible by the security command's control of communications"

At the time of the December 12 Incident, Major Kim Oh-rang, who was the chief of staff to Commander Jeong Byeong-ju of the Special Warfare Command, was killed after responding with a pistol when the 3rd Airborne Brigade troops attacked the headquarters and attempted to arrest Commander Jeong while firing.
He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel in recognition of his strong military spirit.
The photo shows his wife, Baek Young-ok, visiting the grave of Major Kim, who is buried in the National Cemetery, on Memorial Day in 1990, and paying her respects while receiving the posthumous rank of lieutenant colonel.
The following year, Mr. Baek died by jumping from the roof of a building after overdosing on tranquilizers.
--- p.271, 「20.
From the "Operation to Arrest Commander Jeong Byeong-ju of the 3rd Airborne Brigade"

At this moment, the first floor information room of the Capital Defense Command.
Lieutenant Colonel Shin Yun-hee, deputy commander of the military police corps, was secretly gathering the military police company commanders.
He had already received instructions from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chun Doo-hwan, to arrest the commander of the Capital Defense Command, Jang Tae-wan, and disarm the Army Headquarters before midnight.
He faithfully followed the orders of the formal chain of command in the early stages of the situation, such as rushing to the residence of the Army Chief of Staff in Hannam-dong at the direction of Commander Jang Tae-wan immediately after a gunfight broke out there. However, as time passed, he accepted the logic of the Joint Investigation Team and, following the instructions of the Joint Investigation Team, began to arrest his direct commander.

--- p.317, 「24.
From "The Suyeongsa Military Police Unit Arrests the Army Headquarters Command"

When the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chun Doo-hwan, reported that he would arrest and investigate Prosecutor General Jeong Seung-hwa, President Choi Kyu-hah, who had been holding out for about 10 hours citing procedural issues, could no longer delay approval when the Minister of National Defense appeared and said that Prosecutor General Jeong Seung-hwa needed to be arrested and investigated.
It was the moment when the victory of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was officially recognized.
A series of events that completely overturned the military's chain of command, including the forcible deportation of the martial law commander and Army Chief of Staff, the departure of commanders from their posts under martial law, the mobilization of troops outside the formal chain of command, and the shooting and arrest of direct superiors, began to take on the appearance of legality from this moment on.
So, during the 5th and 6th Republics, the series of events carried out by the Joint Investigation Team that night could not be subject to judicial judgment.

--- p.322, 「25.
President Choi Kyu-hah's posthumous approval of the president's arrest ten hours later

Although not well known, Major General Kim Yun-ho was one of the people who played a key role in the immediate aftermath of the December 12 Incident and in the military reorganization process.
Although he did not directly participate in the December 12 Incident, he was deeply involved in the issues of US-North Korea relations and military reorganization as a member of the six-member committee (Lieutenant Generals Cha Kyu-heon, Yu Hak-seong, and Hwang Young-si, and Major Generals Kim Yun-ho, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae-woo) informally formed by the core leaders of the December 12 Incident on the 13th, the day after the incident.

--- p.349, 「27.
From "Chun Doo-hwan, planning military reorganization even before December 12"

The new military junta, which seized power through the December 12 Coup, filled key military posts with its own forces and then began a large-scale operation to weed out generals who opposed the December 12 Coup or were classified as members of the Kim Jae-gyu and Jeong Seung-hwa factions.
It was an operation to remove factors that were hindering their ability to establish their own leadership within the military.
This was further justified by the need for generational change in the aging military.
Numerous generals were stripped of their military uniforms by the standards unilaterally drawn up by the new military junta.
An unprecedented 'massacre of the stars' has occurred since the founding of the country.
The six-member committee comprised of key members of the 12/12 movement and the Security Command led this 'massacre of the stars'.

--- p.392, 「31.
From “Stars Falling Under the Blade of the New Military Regime”

Ultimately, the United States chose a realistic alternative.
In other words, the strategy was to not impose direct sanctions on the new military junta that had seized power, but to express support for President Choi Kyu-hah's civilian government whenever possible and to emphasize opposition to military intervention in politics.
However, General John Wickham, commander of the US Forces Korea, showed no signs of softening his feelings toward General Chun Doo-hwan's group.
A serious war of nerves continued for some time between General Chun Doo-hwan's group and General Wickham.
It is known that Chun Doo-hwan struggled so much in this fight that he became neurotic.

--- p.412, 「32.
The new military junta's multi-pronged operation to obtain approval from the United States on December 12th

Thirteen years later, in February 1993, a civilian government was launched.
Kim Young-sam, one of the three Kims who had been rejected by the military junta 13 years ago, was inaugurated as the 14th president.
So what were those 13 years in our history?
The primary condemnation of the Fifth Republic was carried out by the Sixth Republic.
Chun Doo-hwan and his wife were imprisoned at Baekdamsa Temple for two years.
47 key figures of the 5th Republic, including 10 of his relatives, were arrested, and 29 were indicted without detention.
It is said that this is the first time in world history that a former head of state has been treated this way without a revolution.

--- p.458, 「37.
From "After Chun Doo-hwan Entered the Blue House"