The NATIONAL SECURITY Perspective of the First President Rhee Syngman of Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the security perspective of the first president Rhee Syngman of ROK and bring some implications in making defense policy making. Method: This paper utilizes multidisciplinary approach. This contains the perspective of threat, allies, defense policy, independent defense. Specifically this uses various speeches, interviews, memoirs, and testimonies about and by Rhee Syngman. Results: This paper did find out that President Syngman Rhee not only had a firm view against communism, but also maintained a thorough anti-Japanese view against Japan. However, the Korea-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the resulting South Korea-U.S. alliance, which were agreed upon with the U.S. during the Korean War. And his security perspective could actually play a major role in curbing the recurrence of the war on the Korean Peninsula and securing South Korea s sustainability and security. Conclusion: The first President Rhee Syngman had tried to devote his best efforts to settle down Korea’s solid dynamic security through closely good friendship with US. To make this objective he took very a serious vigilance and concerns to North Korea and the revival of expansionist Japanese militarism. As a first president of ROK, he made fundamental base of ROK and its security.