HELLO from KOREA

The Founding of the Republic
On August 15, 1945, Japan unconditionally surrendered to the Allied
Powers shortly after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. As a result, Korea was finally liberated, and regained its independence
after thirty-five years of colonial rule. The Korean people were
overjoyed, but this joy was shortlived.
Ideological conflict broke out, and the people were divided over who
should rule. Soviet forces quickly occupied the northern part of the
peninsula, while U.S. forces moved into the southern part, under an
accord reached at the Potsdam Conference in July 1945.
On May 10, 1948, general elections were held in the South alone, and
on August 15, the Daehanminguk, or the Republic of Korea (ROK), was
officially established with Seoul as its capital and Syngman Rhee as
President. Almost concurrently, a Communist regime was established in
the North with Kim I1-sung as the ruler with virtually absolute power.
On September 9, 1948, the Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk, or the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), was officially established
in the North with Pyeongyang as its capital.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea launched a full-scale invasion of the
South. After initial success, the N.K. forces were repulsed by combined U.N.
forces, and pushed back to the Amnokgang River. The People's Republic of
China then intervened and soon the two sides were at a stalemate near the
38th parallel. A ceasefire agreement was signed on July 27, 1953.
During the three years of war, the entire land was devastated, and the
economy was wrecked. Millions of people were left homeless and separated
from their families. The damage went far beyond that, though, as
this war in which Koreans fought against Koreans hardened the division
between the North and South and left scars which still last today.
After the war, the country obviously faced many problems. Syngman
Rhee became increasingly autocratic, and by the late 1950s, he dominated
Korean politics. Demonstrations broke out in protest, and on April 19,
1960, the student-led popular uprising later known as the Sailgu (April
19) Revolution broke out, which forced Rhee to step down.
31 _ History