Korea in 1945

Japan's surrender brought liberation on August 15, but the peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel, with U.S. troops entering the south and Soviet troops the north. The Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence, the People's Republic of Korea, the U.S. military government, and returning leaders such as Syngman Rhee and the Provisional Government competed to shape the new state, and the Moscow Conference's trusteeship decision at year's end sparked fierce controversy.

The year in Korea

Aug 15Japan announced its unconditional surrender, and Korea was liberated after 35 years of Japanese colonial rule. [Source]
Aug 15The Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence, led by Lyuh Woon-hyung and An Jae-hong, began work to keep order and prepare for a new state. [Source]
Sep 6The preparation committee convened a national assembly of people's representatives and proclaimed the People's Republic of Korea. [Source]
Sep 8The U.S. XXIV Corps under Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge landed at Incheon, and a U.S. military government ruled the south until August 1948. [Source]
Oct 16Syngman Rhee, who had campaigned for independence in the United States, returned home after 33 years, landing at Gimpo Airport. [Source]
Nov 23The first group of Provisional Government leaders, including Kim Ku, returned from China in a private capacity. [Source]
Dec 27The Moscow Conference of foreign ministers agreed on a provisional Korean government and up to five years of trusteeship, triggering a fierce anti-trusteeship movement in Korea. [Source]

Liberation and a new republic (1945–49) · Historical photo archive →

Around the world

Aug 6The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, followed by Nagasaki three days later. [Source]
Oct 24The Charter of the United Nations entered into force, formally establishing the UN. [Source]

Songs, shows & trends

Books

Recovery of the Great Korean Dictionary manuscript — The dictionary manuscript seized by Japanese police in the Korean Language Society incident was found on September 8 in a warehouse at Gyeongseong Station. [Source]

Year League: the best year

Sources

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1940s · Liberation and Division

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