Occupation Operation_Blacklist_Forty

the flag lowering ceremony in seoul during official japanese surrender of korea on september 9, 1945

the american occupation force composed of 45,000 men united states army s xxiv corps. first of american forces arrive in korea small advanced party landed @ kimpo airfield near seoul on september 4, 1945. small advanced party, consisting of fourteen men of 7th infantry division, sailed inchon on september 8, , main landing began on following day. according author paul m. edwards, united states government had little interest in korea, , relied on general douglas macarthur, in command of occupation of japan, make of post-war decisions. macarthur, however, overloaded work needed done in japan, ordered commander of operation blacklist forty, lieutenant general john r. hodge, maintain harsh occupation of korea. hodge set headquarters @ banda hotel in seoul, established military government, declared english official language of korea, , began process of building independent korean government friendly united states.

hodge considered great battlefield commander, poor diplomat. there little doubt disliked koreans, , ignorant of culture , how differed of japanese. result, hodge made many mistakes, including issuing order men treat koreans enemies. furthermore, due shortage of manpower, hodge allowed old japanese police force remain on duty crowd control , similar work. retained colonial japanese government, @ least initially, until find suitable american replacements. however, following complaint korean people, american military government in tokyo officially had korea removed japan s political , administrative control on october 2, 1945. thus, japanese administrators removed power, although many henceforth employed advisors american replacements. edwards says general hodge s significant contribution occupation alignment of military government of korea s wealthy anti-communist faction, , promotion of men had collaborated japanese positions of authority.

author e. takemae says american forces greeted occupiers, , not liberators. says americans held japanese in higher regard koreans, because of former s military background, , appreciated japanese knowledge , administrative skills, did not find among koreans. turned out, americans found easier deal japanese authorities in regards handling of korea, instead of dealing directly korea s many different political factions. according takemae; [i]n eyes of many koreans, americans bad japanese.

uss san francisco off korean coast on september 28, 1945

preparations withdrawal of american , soviet forces korean peninsula not begin until united states , soviets agree establish unified korean government friendly both nations interests. however, soviets refused accept idea did not involve creation of communist state, , therefore negotiations fruitless. result of disagreement, united states sent korean question united nations (un). united nations agreed take challenge in september 1947, , proceeded providing koreans un-supervised elections. soviet union, however, made clear decision made united nations apply portion of korea south of 38th parallel, , north of parallel determined either or new democratic people s republic of korea (north korea). nevertheless, elections held, , exiled korean leader, syngman rhee, inaugurated president of new republic of korea (south korea) on july 24, 1948.

the american , soviet occupations of korean ended after, leaving korean peninsula divided. according edwards, americans glad gone. 1950, korea, or far eastern affairs in general, had become of such small importance americans on january 5, 1950, president harry truman said not intervene in clash between chinese communists , nationalists on taiwan, or on chinese mainland, , 7 days later secretary of state dean acheson said korea outside american sphere of influence. despite this, united states , south korea signed military assistance pact on january 26, 1950, $1,000 worth of signal wire had arrived in country time of outbreak of korean war on june 25, 1950.