DR SYNGMAN RHEE

REPUBLIC OF KOREA 26 MARCH 1875 - 19 JULY 1965

Elected president in 1952, 1956 and 1960,

South Korea’s first premier was born in Hwanghae province in present-day North Korea. He was educated by Methodists and became fluent in English. His nationalist activities earned him a prison sentence in the early 1900s.

He emigrated to the United States soon after his release, and in 1910 he completed a PHD at Princeton University – the first Korean to do so. Rhee moved to Hawaii in 1925 and spent the next two decades lobbying Washington to recognise Korean independence.

After Japan’s defeat in 1945, he was one of the few educated politicians the Americans were aware of, and he was duly selected to lead a provisional government in South Korea. Like his northern counterpart, Rhee was ruthless in eliminating political rivals and outlawed the main opposition parties. During peace negotiations in 1951-3, his intransigent stance was often at odds with the wishes of Washington.

“RHEE MOVED TO HAWAII IN 1925 AND SPENT THE NEXT TWO DECADES LOBBYING WASHINGTON TO RECOGNISE KOREAN INDEPENDENCE”