주한미육군사령부 정보참모부 정기보고

1947. 03. 26. 주한미육군사령부 정보참모부 정기보고 [illegible] G-2 PERIODIC REPORT From: 250800/I Mar 47 To : 260800/I Mar 47 Headquarters, USFIK Seoul, Korea 1000/I 26 March 1947 No. 489. MAPS: KOREA, 1/250,000 Eastern ASIA, 1/1,000,000 1. OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE None. 2. NON-OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE None. 3. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE a. Sabotage - None reported. b. Espionage - None reported. c. Terrorism - None reported. d. Secret Organizations - None reported. e. Mail Interceptions (1) Reduction of Cost of Living in South KOREA Three letters, two from CHUNGCHONG NAMDO and one from CHUNGCHONGPUKTO, states that there is a tendency toward a gradual reduction of prices. These letters indicate that a reduction of approximately 25% has already taken place. The price of rice on the black market is given as 400 yen per small mal (2.38 gallons) in PUNGCHU-LI, CHUNGCHONG-PUKTO, 410 yen in KONGJU, CHUNGCHONGNAMDO, and 430 in TAEJON. (SEO/3733, 3740, 3741, letters dated 15, 19, and 17 March respectively). COMMENT: Several possible reasons for this decrease in price are given by the writers including, fear on the part of profiteers (profiteer bill now up before the Legislature may be a reason for this), and a failure of the people to buy due to the expectation of a further reduction in prices. The price of a small mal of rice in SEOUL is currently approximately 450 yen. (See par 3c/1/, P/R #487). (2) Illegal Possession of Explosives and Firearms (a) A letter from the Chief of the KANGHWA Police Station to the Chief of the CHONGNO Police Station, SEOUL, states that sailors who live on the island of KANGHWA-DO are members of the Left Wing Chosun Democratic Youth Alliance and are conspiring with members of the North Korean People's Committee to smuggle in arms and ammunition and conceal them in the mountains. (SEO/3677, letter dated 11 March). (b) CHUNG Chin, (c/o Military Officers School in front of DAINUNG Station) SEOUL, writes to PARK, Chin Soc, YONGCHON-LI, CHUNGCHONG-NAMDO, requesting that he be permitted to borrow PARK's Japanese sword and pistol. (SEO/3703, letter undated). (c) A letter from PAK, Ki Dong, KOCHANGS-ERP, KYONGSANG-NAMDO to NOMURA Eikichi, KAMIMOTO-MACHI, JAPAN, requests NOMURA to bring 10,000 percussion caps and 1,300 pounds of gun powder with him on his return to KOREA, stating that a large profit can be made. (PUS/1576, letter dated 06 March). f. Telecommunications - No violations reported. DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 Confidential 미국자료 | 307 XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #489 Confidential 4. CIVIL RELATIONS a. Disturbances - None reported. b. Political Parties and Other Organizations (1) School Strike Continuing Several reports indicate that the school strike is continuing to be a problem with Leftist agitators keeping the students out of schools by picketing. A CIC report dated 25 March states that more than half of the boys schools in KONGJU are on strike with Leftist agitators keeping those away who would return. In TAEJU the students of the middle schools and colleges are on strike with every indication of staying out for some time. (2) Rightist Parties on CHEJU-DO Two CIC reports dated 21 March state that the Rightist National Society for Acceleration of Korean Independence and the Korean Independence Party on CHEJU Island are poorly organized and lacking in funds. Each party reportedly has only about 1,000 members on the entire island. These parties have met such stiff opposition from the Leftists on the island that they find it difficult to do anything politically. Various reports of Leftists on CHEJU-DO state that they comprise from 60 to 80 percent of the population. The recent Leftist inspired strike on that island may have some effect on the political situation as many of the leaders were arrested. (3) 37th Session of the Legislative Assembly The Assembly convened at 1320 on 25 March with YOON, Ki Sup acting as Chairman in the temporary absence of Dr KIM, Kyu Sik, who arrived late and remained as a member only. 58 members were present. The Assembly Secretary read a letter addressed to the Assembly by the Military Governor which contained a resume of the speech of Representative SCHAFER of MICHIGAN on KOREA. The members of the Assembly then discussed the rule which stated that all proposals must be sent to the Legislative and Judicial Committee after the first reading. This rule is considered by many to cause an unnecessary delay in the passage of legislation. Another objection to the rule is the necessity of having proposals, drawn up by special committees, sent back to the Legislative and Judicial Committee for revision rather than back to the originating committee. No action was taken on this discussion. The first item on the agenda was the first reading of the election law by the Chairman of the Special Committee for Drafting Election Laws, KIM, Boong Choon. Following the reading, questions were allowed. The majority of these questions were general. The female members of the Assembly stated that while they did not want to ask for special privileges, they felt that if something wasn't done to encourage women that they would not participate in politics. This fact is partly due to the higher rate of illiteracy among women and also to an apathetic attitude toward politics. The Assembly adjourned at 1700. The next session will be held at 1300 on 26 March. COMMENT: LEE, Nam Kyoo, whose case is now before the Discipline Committee (see par 4b/1/; P/R #483), distributed without permission a leaflet entitled "Revisions to the Pro-Japanese Bill" to the desk of each member. This bill was signed by LEE with the notation that 32 others backed the revision. When the Chairman was notified of this action, the leaflets were removed by the Secretary. c. Korean Press (1) For the purpose of showing matters of current public interest in KOREA, translations have been made of the leading headlines in all major news- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 2 Confidential XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #489 Confidential papers in SEOUL, and the texts of articles that are considered to be of particular interest. (See Incl #1) 5. SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE IN ADJACENT AREAS None. 6. MISCELLANEOUS None. [illegible signature] AC of S, G-2 1 Inclosure: Translations of SEOUL Newspapers DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 3 Confidential