South Korean presidential election, 1948

Republic of Korea presidential election, 1948

20 July 1948

Nominee Syngman Rhee Kim Koo Party NARRKI Korean Independence Electoral vote 180 13 Percentage 91.8% 6.7%

Elected President Syngman Rhee NARRKI

The first presidential election in South Korea was held on 20 July 1948, following the Constitutional Assembly elections earlier that year. The election was indirect, with the president being elected by the Assembly. Syngman Rhee was elected with 180 votes out of 196, and was to oversee the transfer of power from the United States Army Military Government in Korea.^[1] An important role was played in the run-up to the election by the dispute between Rhee and Kim Koo over the issue of holding separate elections in the South. Kim rejected the notion of separate elections, and split from the National Alliance for the Rapid Realization of Korean Independence to form the Korean Independence Party.^[2] 13 members cast their votes for Kim. In the event, Kim's split allowed Rhee to consolidate power over NARRKI and, in 1951, form the Liberal Party, enabling his rule over South Korea until the April Revolution in 1960.^[2]

Results

References

1. ↑ Savada, A. M. (1997) South Korea: A Country Study. DIANE Publishing. p. 33.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fukui, H. (1985) Political parties of Asia and the Pacific, Vol. 1. Greenwood Press. p. 674.

Elections and referendums in South Korea Presidential elections 1948 1952 1956 1960 (Mar) 1960 (Aug) 1963 1967 1971 1972 1978 1979 1980 1981 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 Legislative elections 1948 1950 1954 1958 1960 1963 1967 1971 1973 1978 1981 1985 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Local elections 1952 1956 1960 1991 1995 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 By-elections 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Referendums 1962 1969 1972 1975 1980 1987