Who was the first president of South Korea (1948-1960) who refused to sign the armistice and pursued reunification by force?

• A. Park Chung-hee
• B. Kim Dae-jung
• C. Syngman Rhee
• D. Roh Tae-woo

Answer: (C)

The question tests understanding of South Korea’s early leadership and their stance on ending the Korean division. The first president of the Republic of Korea, serving from 1948 to 1960, insisted that Korea be reunified under a government in Seoul and would not accept a settlement that permanently left the peninsula divided. He refused to sign the armistice terms that would solidify a divided Korea and believed reunification should be achieved by force if necessary. This hardline approach included pushing for aggressive measures toward the North and suppressing opposition at home to maintain a strong, unified Korean state under his leadership. His uncompromising stance ultimately contributed to widespread domestic unrest and the loss of support from both his political opponents and international allies, leading to his resignation after mass protests in 1960.

Park Chung-hee, Kim Dae-jung, and Roh Tae-woo came to power in later decades and pursued different paths—Park after a 1961 coup focusing more on economic development, and Kim Dae-jung and Roh Tae-woo pursuing engagement and reconciliation with the North rather than reunification by force.