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The establishment of the government of South Korea was a pivotal event in the country’s history and took place in a variety of political and social contexts.
Let’s take a look at the process and background of the establishment of the Korean government in 1948.
Background on the establishment of the South Korean government
The beginnings of the Korean government can be traced back to the Cairo Declaration of 1943.
It was in this declaration that Korean independence was first mentioned and included a promise to make Korea independent “at the appropriate time”.
Later, Korean independence was discussed internationally through the Yalta Conference (February 1945) and the Potsdam Declaration (July 1945), which led to the establishment of the 38th parallel, which divided Korea into North and South Korea.
In this way, Korea’s independence and the establishment of a government was a process of international consensus and post-war handling.
Liberation and the role of the Provisional Government
After Korea’s liberation, the country was divided between the U.S. military government and the Soviet Union.
During this time, the Korean Provisional Government continued the independence movement from Chongqing, China, and operated in cooperation with the Allies through the Korean Liberation Army.
However, the Provisional Government was unable to directly influence the establishment of an immediate regime in Korea, as various factions within the country prepared to form a new government.
5-10 General Election and Constituent Assembly
On May 10, 1948, South Korea held its first democratic election, the 5-10 General Election. This election was an important step in laying the groundwork for the establishment of the government of South Korea.
All citizens over the age of 21 were eligible to participate, and the election was conducted according to the principles of direct, equal, secret, and universal suffrage. The election resulted in the election of 200 members of the National Assembly, which formed the Constituent Assembly.
However, no elections were held north of the 38th parallel, and leaders of the North-South negotiating faction and left-wing forces boycotted the elections.
This resulted in the establishment of a sole government in the South. After the election, elections were delayed in Jeju Island due to the 4-3 Incident, but further elections were held in 1949 and members of the National Assembly were elected.
The First National Assembly and the Constitution
The First National Assembly held its first meeting on May 31, 1948, and elected Syngman Rhee as the speaker of the National Assembly.
The National Assembly then established the identity of the Republic of Korea through the enactment of a constitution. On July 17, 1948, the Constitution of the Republic of Korea was promulgated, which stated that the Republic of Korea would inherit the spirit of the March 1 Movement and establish a system as a democratic republic.
The constitution provided for the indirect election of the president by the National Assembly and stipulated a four-year term for the president.
Establishment of the South Korean government and international recognition
On July 20, 1948, the National Assembly elected Syngman Rhee as the first president and Lee Si-young as vice president.On August 15, the government of the Republic of Korea was officially established, marking the end of the U.S. military government and the beginning of independent government operations in South Korea.
The new government took a number of steps to strengthen defense and diplomacy, most notably establishing its first foreign diplomatic mission in Nanjing, China, and in December of that year, the South Korean government was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly as the only legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula.
Post-government challenges and international engagement
After the establishment of the government, the Republic of Korea continued its efforts to strengthen its international presence in the context of the North-South divide.
The establishment of a representative office in Tokyo in 1949 was part of this effort. The government also took important steps in domestic affairs, such as reorganizing the education system and strengthening national defense and security.
The establishment of the Korean government was a complex process that took place in the context of international politics, not just the independence of a country.
In the process, South Korea established a new system based on democracy and established itself as an independent country recognized by the international community.
Later, South Korea attempted to purge the pro-Japanese faction through the Anti-National Activities Punishment Act, but was not completely successful due to internal conflicts and external pressures. This would later have a major impact on Korean society.
This article is designed to help you understand how South Korea’s government was established and is organized around key events in the country’s modern history.
The history of Korea is a history of challenges and overcoming them, and it is a period that laid important foundations for the formation of today’s Korean society.
