Korea’s Historical Outline:
The Outlawing of the PRK & The Four Power Trusteeship
The People’s Republic
of Korea (PRK) was a provisional government that came into existence following
the surrender of the Empire of Japan at the end of World War II. It was
established on September 6, 1945, during the division of Korea into two
occupation zones: the north occupied by the Soviet Union and the south occupied
by the United States. The PRK aimed to bring about radical social change
through a network of people’s committees.
In the aftermath of World
War II, the Korean Peninsula found itself divided into two separate zones of
influence, with the Soviet Union administering the northern part and the United
States overseeing the southern region. Tensions were high as ideological differences
and political objectives clashed. In 1945, the United States Army Military
Government in Korea made the divisive decision to outlaw the People’s Republic
of Korea in the South, a move that would have far-reaching consequences for the
future of the Korean Peninsula.
💻 Table of Contents:
- The Four Power Trusteeship Proposal: A Post-War Diplomatic Arrangement
- Soviet Influence and the Rise of Korean Communists
- The US Military Government in Korea and the Suppression of PRK
- Reasons for the Outlawing
- Consequences and Controversies
 |
| American Russian soldiers North Korea |
The Four Power
Trusteeship Proposal: A Post-War Diplomatic Arrangement
During the Yalta
Conference in February 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt suggested the
establishment of a four-power trusteeship for Korea. This proposed trusteeship
would involve the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the
Republic of China. Stalin, in principle, expressed his agreement to Roosevelt’s
suggestion.
On December 27, 1945,
in Moscow, the United States, Soviet Union, and Britain reached an agreement to
establish a “four-power trusteeship” consisting of the United States,
Soviet Union, China, and the United Kingdom. The purpose of this trusteeship
was to administer and govern Korea collectively while simultaneously
negotiating its path towards independence.
The proposal for a
trusteeship of up to five years for Korea at the Moscow Conference in December
1945 was a diplomatic arrangement between the United States and the Soviet
Union in the aftermath of World War II. The idea behind the trusteeship was to
establish an interim period during which the two superpowers, along with other
concerned parties, would oversee the administration and governance of Korea.
During this
trusteeship period, the intention was to stabilize the situation in Korea,
facilitate reconstruction, and create conditions conducive to the eventual
establishment of an independent Korean government. The trusteeship was
conceived as a transitional phase, allowing for the development of a
self-governing system and the preparation of the Korean Peninsula for
independence.
 |
| 38th Parallel |
The decision to limit
the trusteeship to a maximum of five years reflected a commitment to not
prolong external control indefinitely. The ultimate goal was to pave the way
for the Korean people to determine their own political destiny and achieve full
independence after the specified trusteeship period. However, the geopolitical
tensions of the emerging Cold War and conflicting interests complicated the
implementation of these plans, eventually leading to the division of Korea into
North and South along the 38th parallel.
Soviet Influence and
the Rise of Korean Communists:
When Soviet troops
entered Pyongyang on August 24, 1945, they discovered a local People’s
Committee led by Cho Man-sik, a Christian nationalist with a long history of
activism. Initially, the Soviet authorities worked with the People’s Committees
but took steps to ensure that individuals aligned with their political
interests, particularly Korean communists, gained positions of power. Through
this process, Korean communists gradually became the majority in the People’s
Committees.
Cho Man-sik was
considered the Soviet government’s initial choice to lead North Korea. However,
in December 1945, at the Moscow Conference, the Soviet Union agreed to a US
proposal for a trusteeship of up to five years before granting Korea
independence. Most Koreans, including Cho Man-sik, demanded immediate
independence and voiced their opposition to the trusteeship at a public meeting
in January 1946. As a result, Cho Man-sik was placed under house arrest, and Kim Il Sung replaced him. Kim Il Sung and other Korean communists had initially
supported the trusteeship under pressure from the Soviet government.
 |
| Yalta Conference |
You May Also Read:
On February 8, 1946,
the People’s Committees were restructured as Interim People’s Committees, which
were predominantly led by communists. The new regime implemented popular
policies such as land redistribution, nationalization of industries, labor law
reforms, and gender equality. Existing communist groups were reorganized as the
Workers’ Party of Korea, with Kim Il Sung assuming leadership.
After unsuccessful
negotiations for reunification, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
was established on September 9, 1948, with Kim Il Sung as the premier.
The US Military
Government in Korea and the Suppression of PRK:
Following the
American arrival in September 1945, the United States Army Military Government,
led by Lieutenant-General John R. Hodge, took control of the Korean Peninsula
south of the 38th parallel. The 38th Parallel is a circle of latitude that was
used to demarcate the Korean Peninsula during the post-World War II division of
Korea. It became the dividing line between the Soviet-occupied northern part
and the American-occupied southern part of Korea.
The Korean Peninsula
was divided along this line into two separate zones of influence, with the
Soviet Union administering the northern part and the United States overseeing
the southern region. The division along the 38th Parallel played a pivotal role
in shaping the subsequent history of North and South Korea. Hodge refused to
recognize the People’s Republic of Korea (PRK) and outlawed it on December 12,
1945, with the stated mission of dismantling the Communist government.
 |
| Korean War in Picture |
While Korea
celebrated its liberation from Japanese colonial rule, the South witnessed the
rise of various political factions, including those with left-leaning
ideologies influenced by communism. Among them, the PRK emerged as a prominent
force, led by figures such as Yeo Un-hyeong and Kim Tu-bong. However, the
United States, cautious of communism’s spread, sought to establish a
pro-Western government in the South. Thus, the PRK found itself on a collision
course with the anti-communist objectives of the USAMGIK (The United States
Army Military Government in Korea), leading to its eventual outlawing. The consequences
of this decision would shape the political landscape, ideological divide, and
future reunification visions of the Korean Peninsula.
Reasons for the
Outlawing:
The decision to
outlaw the PRK stemmed from a combination of factors. The United States viewed
communism as a threat to its interests and wanted to prevent its spread in the
region. The onset of the Cold War further heightened concerns about the
expansion of Soviet influence. The USAMGIK saw the PRK as a communist-led
organization and considered it a potential avenue for Soviet-backed subversion.
Additionally, there
were concerns about the PRK’s legitimacy and its potential to undermine the
establishment of a pro-Western government. The USAMGIK aimed to consolidate its
control over South Korea and ensure a smooth transition to a new political
order. By outlawing the PRK, it sought to marginalize and suppress a political
faction that it perceived as a threat to its objectives.
Consequences and
Controversies:
The outlawing of the
PRK had significant consequences for the political landscape of South Korea.
Many PRK leaders were arrested, and the organization was effectively
dismantled. The move further polarized political factions in the South, leading
to increased tensions and divisions.
Critics argue that
the decision to outlaw the PRK stifled political pluralism and democratic
processes in South Korea. They argue that by suppressing left-leaning factions,
the USAMGIK limited the range of political discourse and stifled alternative
voices.
Moreover, the
outlawing of the PRK had long-term implications for the reunification of Korea.
The division caused by the outlawing of the PRK intensified the ideological and
political divide between North and South, setting the stage for the Korean War
in 1950.
 |
| Bilateral Meeting US Army in South Korea |
Some proponents of
the decision argue that outlawing the PRK was necessary to prevent the spread of
communism and maintain stability. They contend that the move was a strategic
necessity given the geopolitical context of the time. They assert that allowing
the PRK to operate freely would have undermined efforts to establish a
pro-Western government in the South.
Conclusion:
The outlawing of the
People’s Republic of Korea in South Korea by the United States Army Military
Government had far-reaching consequences for the Korean Peninsula. The
decision, driven by concerns about communism and the desire to establish a
pro-Western government, polarized the political landscape in the South and
contributed to the division of Korea.
The controversy surrounding this decision
including the geopolitical spirited by the name of Four Power Trusteeship proposal
eventually accelerate to be divided of the Korean Peninsula.
