United States Army Military Government in Korea information
1945–1948 U.S.-occupied southern Korea
United States Army Military Government in Korea
재조선 미국 육군사령부 군정청(Korean)
1945–1948
Top: Flag of the United States Bottom: Flag of South Korea
Emblem
Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner" (de jure)
"Aegukga" (de facto)
Location of the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula
Status
Military occupational transitional government
Capital
and largest city
Seoul
Official languages
Korean, English
US commander-in-chief
• 1945–1948
John R. Hodge
US military governor
• 1945
Archibald V. Arnold
• 1945–1947
Archer L. Lerch
• 1947–1948
William F. Dean
• 1948–1949
Charles G. Helmick
Chairman of assembly
• 1946–1948
Kim Kyu-sik
• 1948
Syngman Rhee
Historical era
Cold War
• Surrender of Japan
15 August 1945
• United States troops stationed
8 September 1945
• Autumn Uprising
1 October 1946
• General election
10 May 1948
• Constitution
17 July 1948
• Republic established
15 August 1948
Currency
Won, "A yen" scrip, United States dollar
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Chōsen
People's Republic of Korea
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
South Korea
Today part of
South Korea North Korea
United States Army Military Government in Korea
Hangul
재조선미국육군사령부군정청
Hanja
在朝鮮美國陸軍司令部軍政廳
Revised Romanization
Jaejoseon Miyuk-gun Saryeongbu Gunjeongcheong
McCune–Reischauer
Chaejosŏn Miyuk-gun Saryŏngbu Kunjŏngch'ŏng
Part of a series on the
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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The United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) was the official ruling body of the Southern half of the Korean Peninsula from 8 September 1945 to 15 August 1948.
The country during this period was plagued with political and economic chaos, which arose from a variety of causes.[1] The after-effects of the Japanese occupation were still being felt in the occupation zone, as well as in the Soviet zone in the North.[2] Popular discontent stemmed from the United States' military government's support of the Japanese colonial government; then once removed, keeping the former Japanese governors on as advisors; by ignoring, censoring and forcibly disbanding the functional and popular People's Republic of Korea (PRK); and finally by supporting United Nations elections that divided the country. The U.S. administration refused to recognize the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, despite the South Korean government considering it their predecessor since 1987.[3][4]
In addition, the U.S. military was largely unprepared for the challenge of administering the country, arriving with no knowledge of the language or political situation.[5] Thus, many of their policies had unintended destabilizing effects. Waves of refugees from North Korea (estimated at 400,000)[6] and returnees from abroad caused further turmoil.[7]
^Chang, Kornel (2020). "Independence without Liberation: Democratization as Decolonization Management in U.S.-Occupied Korea, 1945–1948". Journal of American History. 107 (1): 77–106. doi:10.1093/jahist/jaaa009. ISSN 0021-8723.
^Nahm (1996, p. 351); Lee (1984, p. 375) [title missing]
^Hart-Landsberg, Martin (1998). Korea: Division, Reunification, & U.S. Foreign Policy. Monthly Review Press. pp. 63–67, 70–77.
^Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Constitution of the Republic of Korea". Refworld. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
^Nahm (1996, p. 340) [title missing]
^Allan R. Millet, The War for Korea: 1945–1950 (2005) P. 59
^Lee (1984, p. 375) [title missing]
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