Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Japan; Korea, Volume XVIII

289. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State⁰

Seoul, March 12, 1960, 3 p.m.

719. Manila for Ambassador McConaughy. Reference: Deptel 687,¹Embtel 718.² With election now only three days away, atmosphere tension heightened by rising incidents violence and publicity given student demonstrations as well as charges, countercharges issue election irregularities. Press today carries report another violent death March 10 in south Cholla province where individual, described by DP as “secret” party member, allegedly beaten to death at meeting LP and Korean anti-Communist Youth Corps members. LP has denied opposition allegation victim secret DP party member and insists incident result personal quarrel. Similar explanation made by suspect Yosu killing who apprehended March 11. Impact these deaths heightened by fact apparently unprecedented in history ROK election campaigns. Opposition press continues feature reports other incidents less violent harassment DP campaigners. Meanwhile, on occasion windup Chang Myon’s stumping tour march, students in Suwon staged demonstration in effort attend DP rally. Similar incident in Ch’ungju same day brought total such demonstrations to six involving estimated 4,000 students.

LP, although accusing opposition of attempt inflame popular passions against government, now clearly on defensive against charges resort illegal and violent tactics to obtain victory.

LP spokesmen joined in expressions regret Yosu incident and called for prompt arrest assailants. President Rhee yesterday reportedly instructed Home Minister Ch’oe move promptly arrest all “law-breakers” involved in incidents violence and campaign irregularities, at same time expressing concern over student demonstrations, which he considered instigated by opposition. LP plan distribute sample ballots for practice voting (Embtel 706)³ being subjected considerable criticism, and yesterday President directed Home Minister stop LP use “imitation ballots”. Speaker Yi Ki-pung also issued call yesterday for “clean and fair” election. At same time, central election committee ruling yesterday on wide variety complaints submitted by DP, decided any vote shown at time of balloting to be considered invalid. Manner in which ballot folded, however, does not affect validity so long as choice voter not revealed. Committee also reportedly decided in favor 13 of 26 other DP complaints, but details not yet made public. Also in response DP complaint yesterday that registrars for poll observers had deliberately absented selves in effort prevent DP registration, central election committee extended registration deadline for seven hours until mid-night last night.

At same time, National Police Director Yi Kang-hak again warned against student demonstrations which he claimed on basis reliable evidence were DP instigated. Home Minister Ch’oe also announced March 10 that beginning March 14 until conclusion ballot count ROKA military police will assume responsibility traffic control so that regular police can be detailed assist maintenance order polling and ballot counting places.

Notwithstanding above developments and LP and administration leaders professions, evidence to date strongly indicates LP campaign tactics have evoked strong feelings resentment, and even disgust, among non-partisan observers and many of better informed electorate, particularly in urban areas. Although student demonstrations on only limited scale and although except for initial outbreak Taegu, have probably been encouraged by DP, it nevertheless significant this first occasion since beginning republic that students have demonstrated against established authority. In this sense, such demonstrations may reflect substantial popular dissatisfaction with majority party’s conduct campaign. This attitude apparently reflected in today’s editorial independent Korea Times which commenting deterioration electoral process states “. . . it appears that electoral troubles and irregularities growing from bad to worse with each new election If elections have lost their truly democratic aspect, its campaigns, we feel, should be over and done with as soon possible, and its procedures followed only by those avid for political power without causing waste of enormous sum money under pretext ensuring a government by people which ensures popular rights.” After reviewing recent incidents of violence and reports of illegal tactics, Times concluded “We cannot but curse those who driving our elections into such pass for they marking greatest ineffaceable stain this nation’s annals of elections .. .”.⁴

It difficult predict extent to which such reaction may influence outcome elections but there increasing comment LP may have overreached self in determination win overwhelming victory. In urban areas, this probably has strengthened opposition, and DP organization Chief Hyon Sok-ho and Publicity Chief Cho Chaech’ on March 10 told Embassy officers DP may still win about 60 percent vote in Seoul and other major cities. Unless, however, LP-administration abandons at this final moment machine political control erected rural areas, which include nearly 70 percent electorate, or unless those individually responsible for operation this machine draw back on final day–neither of which contingencies now seem likely–there little reason expect anything but LP-administration sweep of elections.

As of March 12 nine embassy officers in field for covering elections; five UNCURK observer teams also in field.⁵

Green

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/3–1260. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Tokyo and to Manila for Ambassador McConaughy. McConaughy was in Manila for a Chiefs of Mission conference.
1. Telegram 687 to Seoul, March 10, asked the Embassy to comment on reports of “mushrooming violence” in the election campaign in Korea. (ibid.)
2. In telegram 718 from Seoul, March 12, Green reported on a conversation with Vice President Chang in which Chang expressed his concern over what he described as the “terror atmosphere” gripping the Korean electoral scene. (ibid.) See Supplement.
3. Telegram 706 from Seoul, March 10, reported on the final election days of the campaign, which were “highlighted by opposition’s continuous bombardment LP and administration with charges illegal practices, and counter charges majority party that DP attempting discredit election in anticipation certain defeat.” (Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/3–1260) See Supplement.
4. Ellipses in the source text.
5. The March 15 Presidential and Vice Presidential elections produced a sweeping victory for the candidates of the ruling Liberal Party. President Rhee, who ran unopposed after the death of Cho Pyong-ok, received 9,633,376 votes, approximately 90 percent of the votes cast. His running mate, Yi Ki-pung, defeated the Democratic Party candidate, Chang Myon, by a margin of 8,337,059 to 1,843,758. In an analysis of the election written in the light of subsequent events, the Embassy of Korea assessed the Liberal Party’s landslide victory and concluded: “Seldom has political victory been more completely Pyrrhic.” (Despatch 204 from Seoul, October 28, 1960; Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/10–2860)