Family members of the nation’s first president Syngman Rhee (1875-1965) will make a formal apology to victims killed during an uprising against Rhee’s dictatorial rule 51 years ago today.
Rhee’s adopted son In-soo is to issue a statement of apology today during his visit to the graves of the victims in a cemetery, in Seoul.
It will be the first time that Rhee’s family acknowledges his wrongdoing during his 12-year reign.
The son says that even his father highly evaluated the spirit of the April 19 pro-democracy struggle and agonized over the sacrifice of the young protestors. The son says the apology should be a point for rallying the people.
Fifty one years ago today, protestors tried to march to the presidential residence to press Rhee to resign. Police opened fire, killing 125. The Princeton-educated Rhee opted for a self-exile in Hawaii in 1960 following protests for his election rigging. The uprising led to a sad end to Rhee’s career.
The bereaved family members of the victims are still divided, with some members arguing that under whatever circumstances, his dictatorship should not be justified.
History shows Rhee’s dictatorial and corrupt rule overshadows his achievements. His reaction to opposition was harsh. He allegedly allowed the police to open fire at protestors. His dream of a unified Korea did not materialize.
During his rule, Cho Bong-am, a leader of a progressive party and Rhee’s political opponent, was hanged on false espionage charges in 1958. The Supreme Court ruled this year that the capital punishment of Cho was the result of an erroneous ruling. Some allegedly link the assassination of independence fighter Kim Ku in 1949 to Rhee.
The Jeju April 3 Massacre of up to 15,000 residents in response to an alleged uprising by leftist factions in 1948, also took place under Rhee’s rule.
On a positive note, he had served as the longest-living leader of the government-in-exile against Japan’s colonial rule.
Historians see Rhee as the architect of modern Korea, a crusader for independence, a warrior against Japan’s occupation and Communism. He oversaw the signing of Seoul’s defense treaty with Washington in 1953. The treaty deterred North Korean invasion and provided stability for Korea’s rapid economic development and its maturing democracy.
He protected the South during the North’s invasion from 1950 to 1953. Rhee was no puppet. He even dared to challenge the U.S. for not advancing into the North to create a unified Korea.
Although Rhee’s dream of becoming a George Washington of a unified Korea did not materialize, the time has come for the nation to judge him from a historical perspective. A balanced assessment becomes all the more necessary as his family will apologize for his misrule for national reconciliation and unity. A similar apology from Park Chung-hee’s family and Chun Doo-hwan will further promote national harmony. Korea needs to establish a legacy for each president.