South Korean presidential election, 1948

Republic of Korea presidential election, 1948

20 July 1948

133px Nominee Syngman Rhee Kim Koo Party NARRKI KIP Electoral vote 180 13 Percentage 91.8% 6.7%

Elected President Syngman Rhee NARRKI

Presidential elections were held in South Korea for the first time on 20 July 1948, following the Constitutional Assembly elections earlier that year. The elections were indirect, with the president elected by the Assembly. Syngman Rhee was elected with 180 votes out of 196, and was to oversee the transfer of power from the United States Army Military Government in Korea. An important role was played in the run-up to the election by the dispute between Rhee and Kim Koo over the issue of holding separate elections in the South. Kim rejected the notion of separate elections, and split from the National Alliance for the Rapid Realization of Korean Independence to form the Korea Independence Party. 13 members cast their votes for Kim. In the event, Kim's split allowed Rhee to consolidate power over NARRKI and, in 1951, form the Liberal Party, enabling his rule over South Korea until the April Revolution in 1960.

Results

President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Syngman Rhee	National Association for the Rapid Realisation of Korean Independence	180	91.8
Kim Koo	Korea Independence Party	13	6.7
An Se-hong		2	1.0
Seo Jae-pil		1	0.5
Total		196	100
Registered voters/turnout		200	98.0

Vice-President

Candidate	Party	First round		Second round
		Votes	%	Votes	%
Yi Si-yeong	National Association for the Rapid Realisation of Korean Independence	113	57.4	133	67.9
Kim Koo	Korea Independence Party	65	33.0	62	31.6
Cho Man-sik	Korean Democratic Party	10	5.1
Oh Se-chang	Independent	5	2.5
Chang Taek-sang		3	1.5
Seo Sang-in	Independent	1	0.5
Yi Gu-su	Independent	–	–	1	0.5
Invalid/blank votes		0	–	1	–
Total		197	100	197	100
Registered voters/turnout		200	98.5	200	98.5