How did Syngman Rhee become South Korea’s first president?

Syngman Rhee became the first president of South Korea through a series of political developments following the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. After returning to Korea as a prominent nationalist leader well-known to Americans, Rhee built a significant political following and organization in the southern zone.1

In 1947, the United States brought the issue of Korean unification to the United Nations, which subsequently called for general elections in Korea. While the Soviet Union barred the UN from the northern zone, the south held elections under UN supervision on May 10, 1948. The newly elected National Assembly convened on May 31, 1948, and elected Rhee as its speaker. Following the adoption of a constitution, the National Assembly elected Rhee as president on July 20, 1948. The Republic of Korea was officially inaugurated on August 15, 1948, marking the establishment of the First Republic with Rhee as its president.23