[Korea.net News, Culture, August 14 2008] Modern Korea through foreign press

The biggest news in Korea since national liberation (Aug. 15, 1945) was of course, the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948. Korea celebrated the official inauguration of the Republic exactly three years after regaining freedom from 35 years of Japanese rule.

The major world press was mostly hopeful regarding the fledgling republic, launched with the backing of the United States. At the time the U.S. World & World Report, commented that a unified Korea, if possible, would be achieved by Syngman Rhee (1875-1965), and the freedom-loving Koreans. The demarcation line that followed the 38th parallel of latitude from west to east came into existence right after the end of the Second World War, leaving the country divided into two with the southern part of the Korean Peninsula occupied by U.S. troops and the northern zone under the Soviet Union. Rhee was the first president of Korea from 1948-1960.