Christianity, Confucianism, Buddhism, Korean Shamanism, Cheondoism
Government
Unitary presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship
President
• 1948–1960
Syngman Rhee
Vice President
• 1948–1951
Yi Si-yeong
• 1951–1952
Kim Seong-su
• 1952–1956
Ham Tae-young
• 1956–1960
Chang Myon
Legislature
National Assembly
Historical era
Cold War
• Proclamation of the Republic of Korea
15 August 1948
• Korean War
25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953
• April Revolution
19 April 1960
Currency
Won (1945–1953) Hwan (1953–1962)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
United States Army Military Government in Korea
Second Republic of Korea
Today part of
North Korea South Korea
As Korean Republic
First Republic of Korea
South Korean President Syngman Rhee bestowing a medal on a U.S. Navy admiral
Korean name
Hangul
제1공화국
Hanja
第一共和國
Revised Romanization
Jeil Gonghwaguk
McCune–Reischauer
Cheil Konghwaguk
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History of South Korea
Preludes to Division 1910–48
Japanese rule
1910–45
Korean Provisional Government
1919–48
People's Republic of Korea
1945–46
USAMGIK
1945–48
First Republic 1948–60
Korean War
1950–53
Syngman Rhee government
1948–60
April Revolution
1960
Second Republic 1960–63
Yun Posun government
1960
Chang Myon cabinet
1960–61
May 16 coup
1961
Supreme Council for National Reconstruction
1961–63
Third Republic 1963–72
Park Chung-hee government
1963–79
Yushin Constitution
1972
Fourth Republic 1972–81
Assassination of Park Chung-hee
1979
December 12 coup
1979
May 17 coup
1980
Gwangju Uprising
1980
Fifth Republic 1981–87
Chun Doo-hwan government
1981–87
June Democracy Movement
1987
Sixth Republic 1987–present
Roh Tae-woo government
1988–93
Kim Young-sam government
1993–98
1997 Asian financial crisis
1997–2001
Kim Dae-jung government
1998–2003
Roh Moo-hyun government
2003–08
Lee Myung-bak government
2008–13
Park Geun-hye government
2013–17
Moon Jae-in government
2017–22
Yoon Seok-yeol government
2022–present
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Establishment of the first republic
The First Republic of Korea (Korean: 제1공화국; RR: Jeil Gonghwaguk; lit. "First Republic") was the government of South Korea from August 1948 to April 1960. The first republic was founded on 15 August 1948 after the transfer from the United States Army Military Government that governed South Korea since the end of Japanese rule in 1945, becoming the first independent republican government in Korea. Syngman Rhee became the first president of South Korea following the May 1948 general election, and the National Assembly in Seoul promulgated South Korea's first constitution in July, establishing a presidential system of government.
The first republic claimed sovereignty over all of Korea but only controlled Korea south of the 38th parallel until the end of the Korean War in 1953, when the border was modified. The first republic was characterized by Rhee's authoritarianism and corruption, limited economic development, strong anti-communism, and by the late 1950s growing political instability and public opposition to Rhee. The April Revolution in April 1960 led to Rhee's resignation and the transition to the second Republic of Korea.
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