South Korean Constitutional Assembly election, 1948

Constitutional Assembly elections were held in South Korea on 10 May 1948, the country's first election. It was held under the American military occupation, with supervision from the United Nations. It resulted in a victory for the National Alliance for the Rapid Realisation of Korean Independence, which won 55 of the 200 seats, although 85 were held by independents. Voter turnout was 95.5%.^[1]

Background

The election was originally intended to be held throughout the Korean peninsula, but US and Soviet forces were unable to agree on the terms of such an election. It was therefore held only in the US-administered territory, whilst the first elections in North Korea were held in August. However one hundred seats were left open in the South Korean Parliament for North Koreans to vote on when they were able.^[2] The voters elected members of parliament, who then voted on the constitution and elected the president. The overwhelming majority of Koreans opposed the election and the division of Korea that would result.^[3] The elections were marred by terrorism resulting in 600 deaths between March and May.^[4]

Results

Aftermath

The elections were followed by the establishment of the First Republic of South Korea under Syngman Rhee, the country's first independent government since the fall of the Joseon Dynasty in 1910.

As far as the recognition of the legitimacy of the elections for the creation of a nation-state, at least two historians say that

None of the UNTCOK members thought of the elections as creating a national parliament, but after seven week's debate and continuing United States pressure, and only in the absence of the Syrian and Australian delegates, agreement was reached to declare the elections "a valid expression of the free will of the electorate in those parts of Korea which were accessible to the Commission."^[5]

References

See also

• History of South Korea
• History of Korea