Syngman Rhee: The Founding President of the Republic of Korea

제1부 항일 독립운동에 바친 청춘
제2부 대한민국을 세우다
제3부 6.25전쟁…, 불굴의 의지로 나라를 지키다
제4부 불멸(不滅)의 역사로 남은 거인(巨人)

Contents

Part I
A Youth Devoted to the Independence Movement against the Japanese
Born during the Cultural Transition 18
Matriculation at the Paichai School 22
A Long Imprisonment 27
Conversion to Christianity 32
Writing The Spirit of Independence in Prison 36
Rejecting the Call of Emperor Kojong 39
Enrollment at George Washington University at the Age of 30 46
An M.A. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Princeton in Two and a Half Years 51
YMCA Activities at Home 58
Japanese Pressure Through “The 105-Man Incident” 61
Exile in America-Again 63
Headquarters for Korean Independence Movement in Hawaii 67
The Establishment of the Korean Christian Church 73
Expectations for, and Frustration with, the Wilsonian Monroe Doctrine 76
Philadelphia Korean Convention 78
Emerging as a Leader of the Provisional Korean Government 81
President of the Republic of Korea 84
Activities of the Korean Commission to America and Europe 86
A Secret Passage to Shanghai 91
Appeal for Korean Independence at the League of Nations Council Session in Geneva 97
Meeting Francesca Donner 101
Francesca Rhee Softens Korean Antipathy 104
Diplomatic Activities for the Recognition of the Provisional Korean Government 106
A Stateless Person Until the End 111
Americans Who Helped Syngman Rhee 113

Part II
Founding the Republic of Korea
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall” 118
At the Forefront of the Movement to Oppose Trusteeship 121
The “Ever Ready Plan”: A Clandestine Operation 123
Suggesting the Establishment of a Government in South Korea Alone 125
Korean Affairs Brought Before the United Nations 128
The Beginning of Nation-Building 131
Historic Significance of the Founding of the Republic of Korea 134
Ordeals in the Early Phase of the Republic of Korea 140

Part III
The Korean War: An Indomitable Spirit Defending the Country
A Surprise Attack by North Korea 144
The Acheson Line 148
Recruitment of Koreans in the Chinese Army into the North Korean Military 151
MacArthur Visits the Han River 154
Truman Approves of Dispatching U.S. Ground Troops to Korea 158
The Transfer of Wartime Control from the South Korean Military 160
Incheon Landing (the Battle of Incheon) 163
Seoul Reclaimed (the Second Battle of Seoul) 165
“Onward to the North beyond the 38th Parallel!” 170
China Enters the War and the Soviet Union Proposes a Ceasefire 175
“Ike” Comes to Korea 180
Syngman Rhee’s Conditions for a Ceasefire 182
Nixon in Seoul 185
The Armistice Agreement at Last 190
Tree Planted: the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty 193
The Peace Line: Defending Dokdo (Tokto) Island 195
“The Greatest Anti-Communist Leader in the World” 198

Part IV
A Giant Immortalized in History
“Cowards in Washington” 204
Elections and Schools in Session During the War 212
Early Awareness of the Effectiveness of Nuclear Energy 216
Resigning from the Presidency in the Wake of the April Student Revolution 219
“I Will Walk to Ihwajang!” 222
“I Will be Back after a Little Rest in Hawaii.” 224
A Modest Household Provided by Koreans in Hawaii 226
Sparing Haircut Fees to Save for the Return Trip 228
Dream of Returning Home Derailed 230
A Quiet End under Foreign Skies 232
A Lonely Return after Five Years 234
Eternal Sleep in the National Cemetery 238