On this day, 12 September 1945, following the defeat of the Japanese colonial authorities, the People’s Republic of Korea was declared (not to be confused with the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, a.k.a. North Korea). It had a 27 point program including land redistribution, rent controls, nationalisation of major industries, guaranteed human rights, universal suffrage, equality for women, a ban on child labour, workers’ rights and an 8 hour maximum working day. However this was not to the liking of American authorities, who were supposedly committed to “national self-determination,” so in their southern zone decided to abolish the Republic and set up a military dictatorship. Thousands of those who opposed the dictatorship were massacred, including roughly 10% of the population on the island of Jeju.
Pictured: refugee children from Jeju https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1208929672625514/?type=3