Representative Democratic Council

The Representative Democratic Council was an advisory body established in South Korea in February 1946 by the U.S. military government. Its purpose was to soothe discontent following the decision to divide Korea into northern and southern zones after World War II. The council was composed of Koreans and chaired by Syngman Rhee, who had previously led the Korean government-in-exile. This council was a step towards self-government, though it operated under the authority of the U.S. military government, which asserted itself as the sole governing entity in Korea. The establishment of such bodies reflected the complex political landscape and the struggle for Korean independence amidst international influence following the end of Japanese rule.1