Original Post- 33(23). GOVERNANCE BY FEAR — When "National Security" Became the Perfect ExcuseIn 1968, real North Korean commandos almost assassinated the South Korean president. The threat was real.The state's response? To build a "Garrison State"—a system of total control pointed not at the enemy, but at its own citizens.How do you build an invisible prison for an entire nation? In this episode, we break down the three engines of control that made it possible.In this episode, you'll learn about:Engine 1: The Law Discover the National Security Law—a vague, powerful legal weapon that criminalized thought. Find out how mentioning Picasso or quoting Marx could be redefined as "treason."Engine 2: The Spies Meet the KCIA, a secret police that enforced the law with terror. We explore how they fabricated entire spy rings, like the "People's Revolutionary Party Incident," to conduct "judicial murder" and turn neighbors against each other.Engine 3: The Ideology "I Hate Communism" wasn't just a slogan; it was a national identity. Host Jiwon Yoon shares a chilling, personal memory of winning a silver medal in an anti-communist speaking contest as a child.This is the story of how a real fear was amplified, weaponized, and turned into the perfect excuse for total control.Coming Up Next Week: We explore the hardware of the Garrison State—how daily life itself was militarized. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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