August 15, 1948 Seoul
Government of the Republic of Korea established

  Finally, after 35 years of Japanese occupation and 3 more years under the rule of a foreign country, the people of Korea finally founded a nation of their own.  The citizens of the just-born ROK spilled out into the streets, celebrating.  Under the direction of President Rhee, the ROK was now ready to face the world.   

 While all this was going on, President Rhee continued to push strong anti-Communism policies.  At the same time, he was determined to reunify the divided Korean peninsula.  With aid from the U.S., South Koreans felt their nation's poverty-stricken scars healing little by little.