People's Republic of Korea (1945–1946)

People's Republic of Korea; 조선인민공화국
	1945–1946
	Flag of the Preparatory People's Committees Coat of arms
	Motto: 자주독립국가; Chaju dongnip kukka; ("Self-reliant and independent state")
	Anthem: 애국가; Aegukka; ("The Patriotic Song")
Capital; and largest city	Seoul
Common languages	Korean
Government	Unitary people's republic under a provisional government
Chairman
• 1945-1946	Lyuh Woon-hyung
History
• People's republic proclaimed	6 September 1945
• Outlawed in US-occupied half	12 December 1945
• Provisional People's Committee established in Soviet-administered half	8 February 1946
Currency	Korean won
ISO 3166 code	KP
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Japanese colonial occupation
United States Military Government in Korea
Provisional People's Committee of North Korea
Today part of	Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Republic of Korea

Not to be confused with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The People's Republic of Korea (PRK; Korean: 조선인민공화국, Chosŏn Inmin Konghwaguk) was a short-lived country on the Korean Peninsula. A network of people's committees founded the PRK on 6 September 1945 after the surrender of Japan and before the U.S. occupation of Korea. Its government consisted of a provisional people's committee of 75 members that planned to organize general elections.

History[edit | edit source]

On 7 September 1945, US General Douglas MacArthur arrived on the Korean peninsula, where he was given full authority by the US Government to rule as he wished,^[1] and outlawed the PRK in the US military-occupied southern half of the peninsula, in order to rule as a military dictator.

However, it continued to exist in the Soviet Civil Administration-run northern half, where it redistributed land and nationalized industry. It was formally disestablished on 8 February 1946, when the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea was organized through a meeting of political parties, social organizations, administrative bureaus and people's committees in northern Korea, with Kim Il-sung as its chairman.^[2]

References[edit | edit source]

↑
“General MacArthur issued a proclamation to the people of Korea on 7 September establishing American military control over all Korea south of the 38th Parallel. "Having in mind the long enslavement of the people of Korea and the determination that in due course Korea shall become free and independent," he declared, "the Korean people are assured that the purpose of the occupation is to enforce the Instrument of Surrender and to protect them in their personal and religious rights. In giving effect to these purposes, your active aid and compliance are required.... All persons will obey promptly all my orders and orders issued under my authority. Acts of resistance to the occupying forces or any acts which[...]”

United States Armed Forces. "Chapter II: The House Divided" US Army Military History.
↑ Stephen Gowans (2018). Patriots, Traitors and Empires: The Story of Korea’s Struggle for Freedom: 'The US Occupation' (pp. 80–89). [PDF] Montreal: Baraka Books. ISBN 9781771861427 [LG]

[1] 
“General MacArthur issued a proclamation to the people of Korea on 7 September establishing American military control over all Korea south of the 38th Parallel. "Having in mind the long enslavement of the people of Korea and the determination that in due course Korea shall become free and independent," he declared, "the Korean people are assured that the purpose of the occupation is to enforce the Instrument of Surrender and to protect them in their personal and religious rights. In giving effect to these purposes, your active aid and compliance are required.... All persons will obey promptly all my orders and orders issued under my authority. Acts of resistance to the occupying forces or any acts which[...]”

United States Armed Forces. "Chapter II: The House Divided" US Army Military History.

[:1-2] Stephen Gowans (2018). Patriots, Traitors and Empires: The Story of Korea’s Struggle for Freedom: 'The US Occupation' (pp. 80–89). [PDF] Montreal: Baraka Books. ISBN 9781771861427 [LG]

[1]

[2]