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From: 110800/I Mar 48 To : 120800/I Mar 48 Headquarters, USAFIK Seoul, Korea 1000/I 12 March 1948 No. 781 Confidential MAPS: KOREA, 1/250,000 Eastern ASIA, 1/1,000,000 1. ARMED FORCES Negative 2. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES a. CHOUGH Byung Ok Meets With Youth Organization Upon invitation from CHOUGH Byung Ok, Director, National Police Bureau, approximately 35 delegates, representing 16 rightist youth organizations, met in CHOUGH's office on 08 March. Among those present were representatives of the powerful NORTHWEST YOUNG MENS ASSOCIATION and the UNITED YOUNG MEN'S PARTY. (CIC M/R 10 March. A-1) CHOUGH stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the problems to be encountered in holding a fair, peaceful and free election. He promised that there would be no police intervention -- in the event of an orderly election. But in case of trouble, necessary action will be taken and "there will be no distinguishing factor between right and left." Those present agreed to aid and cooperate with the Police Department to insure a peaceful and orderly election. This attitude of the Youth Organizations would be made public through the newspapers. (CIC M/R, 10 March. B-3) b. PUSAN KOREAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY Received Election Instructions The rightist KOREAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY at PUSAN (1200- 1340) received the following instructions from its Central Committee in SEOUL: (1) Acquire all available paper so other parties cannot use it for propaganda. (2) Make use of NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ACCELERATION OF KOREAN INDEPENDENCE by having them electioneer for KDP candidates. (3) Support RHEE for president and KIM Koo for vicepresident. (4) Use force at election time if necessary, through the GREAT KOREAN INDEPENDENCE YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION. (CIC S/I, 10 March. E-3) c. Communists Temporarily Suspend Strike At a special meeting of the Central Committee of the SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY in SEOUL on 02 March, orders were given to suspend the planned 07 March labor strike indefinitely as no benefit would accrue from such activity at this time. The important mission now is to gather all political parties opposed to the UN decision into the DEMOCRATIC PEOPLES FRONT. A meeting will be held during the middle of March to formulate further plans. (CIC S/I, 10 March. C-3) -1- Confidential DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 P/R #781 Confidential d. MOKPO City Officials Back RHEE On 29 February the city officials of MOKPO (930-1300) sponsored an anti-communist, pro-election meeting, which was attended by approximately 1400 people. The Mayor of MOKPO spoke, claiming RHEE the supreme leader and emphasizing the necessity for an immediate election as a unifying action to combat communism. (CIC S/I, 11 March. A-1) e. Communist Organization Goes Underground The CHUNCHON (1060-1680) branch of the communist LABORING PEOPLE'S PARTY is currently being reorganized as an underground group under the leadership of LEE Chung Chu. (CIC P/R #61. C-4) 3. CIVIL UNREST a. Additional Reports On KYONGSANG-NAMDO Violence More complete reports of the violence in KOSONG (1135-1330) area 09 March and the TONGNAE (1200-1350) area on 10 March (see P/R #779 and #780) state that 218 arrests were made and two rioters were found dead in KOSANG on 10 March. In TONGNAE 60 arrests were made on 10 March. (CIC P/R #61, Police rpt) In an attempt to arrest two rioters on 10 March in HAW Myun (1135-1339) one policeman was wounded and one bystander was killed. (CIC Flash rpt, police rpt.) On 10 March in PAEDUN (1137-1340) a roadblock was constructed by rioters. (CIC P/R #61, Police rpt) b. Communist Riots and Demonstrations in CHEJU-DO (Delayed Report) On the nights of 09, 10 and 11 February, 17 separate communist instigated riots and demonstrations occurred in the CHEJU-DO (950-1130) area. These riots included attacks on six police boxes, distribution of handbills and demonstrations by mobs armed with swords and clubs. Notable was the singing of the Soviet national anthem by many of the mobs. No deaths were reported, but two policemen were severely beaten. Approximately 290 arrests were made by the police in the three day period. (CIC S/I, 10 March. Police rpt) c. Police Counter-Demonstration In MOKPO (Delayed Report) Seventy-five armed policemen participated in an anti-communist handbill demonstration in MOKPO (939-1308) on 29 February. One thousand two hundred handbills were distributed, berating the use of 01 March as a day for propagandizing communism. The handbills attacked the SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY for their "treacherous plan for selling their country" and their attempt to confuse the people of South KOREA by "disturbing the public peace and distressing the people" in order to delay Korean independence. All meetings in MOKPO, except under city auspices, were prohibited and any gathering without permission was to be looked upon as a mob of rioters. The people were urged to make a clean sweep of the communists in commemoration of 01 March. (CIC S/I, 11 March. A-1) Confidential -2- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 P[illegible]#781 Confidential d. Sleeping Policemen Attacked At approximately 070230 March, a group of 10 to 12 persons surrounded the KASUWON-NI (1035-1489) police box. Five of the group entered the station and attacked the seven persons sleeping inside (three policemen, two members of the Korean Fire Brigade and two members of the NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE ACCELERATION OF KOREAN INDEPENDENCE). One policeman was seriously injured. No arrests were made. (CIC S/I, 10 March. Police rpt) e. Potential North Korean Assassins Apprehended Two North Koreans were apprehended by the police at CHANG KOK (917.9-1696.4) after having crossed the 38th parallel into South KOREA. These men possessed weapons to be used to assassinate leaders of the South Korean police and handbills following the usual communist party line. (CIC S/I, 10 March. C-2) f. Communist Attempt To Kill Rightist Leader On 05 March one LYU Sun Ok of SOYANG-RI (1023-1432), local leader of the rightist NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE ACCEL-ERATION OF KOREAN INDEPENDENCE, was kidnapped by a mob whose intent was to kill him. LYU was rescued by the police. It is believed this incident was led by the local chairman of the SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY. (CIC P/R #61. B-2) COMMENT: This incident and the preceding one bear out recent reports that communist instructions are that current activities will be confined to the elimination of rightist party leaders and high police officials. 4. PSYCHOLOGICAL a. North Koreans Extremely Interested In Coming South Korean Political Events According to a North Korean merchant in PYONGAN-NAMDO province, the recent favorable turn of political events in South KOREA is being watched with extreme interest by people north of the parallel. Forty or fifty percent of them will venture to come to South KOREA at election time in May at the risk of their lives. (SEO/6897. Ltr translation) b. Translations of SEOUL Newspapers. (See Incl. #1) 5. SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE Negative 6. INTELLIGENCE CONCERNING ADJACENT AREAS Negative Confidential -3- DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070