Video: 'Korean War - PART 2, Prelude to war (1946-1947) 6.25' (Aug. 15, 1948, at 9:26)

(Sunday, August 15, 1948) — The First Republic of Korea, South Korea’s first independent government, was established on today with Syngman Rhee as the first president.

Like subsequent governments, it claimed sovereignty over the entire Korean Peninsula, although it only had power over the area south of the 38th parallel.