In the South, Syngman Rhee, an opponent of communism, who had been backed and appointed by the United States as head of the provisional government, won the first presidential elections of the newly declared Republic of Korea in May.
I syd vandt Syngman Rhee, en modstander af kommunismen, som var blevet støttet og udpeget af USA som leder af den foreløbige regering, i maj den første præsidentvalg i den nyetablerede Republikken Korea.