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2. Establishment of ROK
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Educational Materials of Modern Korean History #2
(National Museum of Korean Contemporary History)

The Establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea

On August 15, 1945, the long awaited day of liberation came, along with hopes for the future.

August 15, 1945
Liberation

However, the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers decided to place Korea under a trusteeship, sending shockwaves through the peninsula.

Decisions agreed upon by the foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union
1. A provisional government will be established to rebuild the country as an independent state
2. A Joint Commission consisting of representatives from the United States and the Soviet Union will be established to work towards that goal
3. A trusteeship of up to five years made up of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and China will be established, but the Joint Commission will work with the Korean provisional government
4. The Joint Commission will meet within a period of two weeks to discuss issues affecting both halves of Korea

In South Korea the anti-trusteeship rightists began to collide with the Soviet-backed trusteeship supporting Communists.

The rightists and leftists split over supporting the trusteeship

In contrast, North Korea was undergoing Communization just the way the Soviet Union had planned.

North Korean Communization based on Soviet plans

In the spring of 1946, the United States-Soviet Union Joint Commission opened based on the agreement made at Moscow regarding the Korean interim government.

First meeting of the United States-Soviet Union Joint Commission March 20, 1946

However, the USA and the Soviet Union conflicted with each other concerning what Korean political parties and social organizations to participate in the Commission.

“Only groups that support the Moscow agreement should be allowed to participate.”

“All groups and organizations should be able to participate since there is freedom of speech”

In the end, the commission went into indefinite recess.

Upon the breakdown, the US Army government and various political factions south of the 38th parallel tried respectively to expand their influences for seizing the initiative.

The US Army government supported the centrists’ left-right coalition movement, Syngman Rhee pushed for interim government in South Korea, and Kim Koo tried to create interim government separate from the US Army government. And Leftists changed their stances to attack the US Army government.

Left-right coalition movement by the US Army government and the Korean Centrists

Push by Syngman Rhee for a South Korean interim government

Kim Koo’s anti-trusteeship drive

Park Heon-young’s anti-US Army government movement

The second United States-Soviet Union Joint Commission meeting was agreed upon amidst extreme chaos. However, this too didn’t come to pass and the United States referred Korea to the United Nations.

May 21, 1947
Second US-Soviet Joint Commission meeting

Second US-Soviet Joint Commission meeting breaks down

United Nations hears the Korean independence issue

The United Nations agreed to hold a unified election, but the Soviet Union objected, resulting in an election only in South Korea.

The Soviet Union refuses entry to the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea into North Korea

United Nations hears the Korean independence issue

In reaction, the Soviet Union and Communists from both Koreas tried to derail the election.

The Soviet Union and leftists of both Koreas work towards preventing elections

However, Korea’s first-ever election took place on May 10, 1948, featuring an astounding 95.5% voter turnout rate.

May 10, 1948
Constitutional Assembly election

The Constitutional Assembly formed by elected National Assemblymen enacted the Constitution. On August 15, 1948, the independent nation everyone dreamed for was born with the name of the Republic of Korea.

May 31, 1948 Constitutional Assembly inaugurated

July 17, 1948 Constitution declared

August 15, 1948 South Korean government declared

Also on September 9 the communist state, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was declared in North Korea, having finished preparing the separate government long ago.

September 9, 1948
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is established

South Korea began its journey firmly believing in democracy and market economy. There were mistakes and shortcomings, but these mistakes and shortcomings were fixed, and anything lacking was resolved, and the country was on a historically progressive path.

For the first time in the history of the Korean people, the sovereignty of the nation lies in the people

A country where anyone can freely pursue his own goals and rightfully earn what he worked for

This is the Republic of Korea