주한미육군사령부 정보참모부 주간요약보고

PART 1 SOUTH KOREA From: 101200/I Sept 48 To : 171200/I Sept 48 Headquarters, USAFIK Seoul, Korea 17 September 1948 No. 157 MAPS: KOREA, 1/250,000 East ASIA, 1/1,000,000 A. ARMED FORCES 1. Strength (Secret) Police: No change. Constabulary: 51,877 (including 582 cadets, 767 unsworn recruits and 1,115 absent, missing or unreported). Coast Guard: 3,075 (including 185 cadets) 2. Operational Activity (Confidential) Border Incidents Between 102400 and 110100 September unknown persons (pre- sumably Koreans) drove a truck south of the parallel into the village of KOUM-NI (930.3-1696.5), fired 3 rounds at the police box and escaped to North Korea. At 170420 September 4 North Korean Constabularmen were observed south of the parallel near (937.8-1696.4). A U.S. outpost fired on the NKC who then withdrew to the North. It is believed one NKC was wounded. [TABLE OF BORDER INCIDENTS] Border Incidents Korean vs Korean.... 4 6 4 6 . 2 3 . 3 2 3 2 4 3 1 43 Firing on US Personnel........ 1 2 . . 1 2 1 . 1 1 . . . 1 1 11 Ambushes of US Personnel........ . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . 1 Soviet Violations of Parallels........ . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . 1 . 2 Korean Violations of Parallels*....... 2 1 . 1 . . 1 . 1 . . . . . . 6 Soviets vs Koreans............. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . 2 TOTAL............... 7 8 6 7 . 4 6 2 3 4 4 2 5 5 2 65 * No firing involved 3 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 B. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE 1. U.S. - Korean Agreement a. Property and Finance On 11 September representatives of the United States and the Republic of Korea completed an agreement covering the possession of property and various financial accounts. The agreement was signed for the Korean Government by Prime Minister LEE Bum Suk and Foreign Minister CHUNG Taik Sang. For the United States the agreement was signed by John J. Muccio, special representative of the President of the United States and Major General John B. Coulter, Commanding General, USAFIK. By the agreement the Government of the Republic of Korea received: (1) All property and accounts of the South Korean Interim Government; (2) All vested properties (formerly Japanese-owned) which have been held in trust and administered by the United States since the Japanese surrender, together with all sales contracts arising from past sales of vested properties, such as land, and including the bulk of the industrial assets in South Korea; (3) All foreign exchange created during the three years of occupation, including U.S. dollars, Hongkong dollars and pounds sterling on deposit with correspondent banks throughout the world; (4) Miscellaneous assets, such as 101 locomotives valued at ₩7,070,000, various capital improvements valued in excess of ₩32,000,000, and certain military supplies not being used by the American forces. The United States Government also agreed to waive all payment for approximately ₩250,000,000 worth of relief and rehabilitation supplies already received or scheduled for delivery in Korea, and agreed to pay for the bulk of imports ordered from Japan for Korean use. Also included in the agreement was a settlement of the ₩25,000,000 Foreign Liquidation Commission loan made by the United States to Korea. Settlement will be made in won and will cover the cost of certain buildings in Seoul which the Department of State desires to use as official residences and offices. The bulk of the won value of the loan, however, will be placed by the U.S. Government in an educational fund to be jointly administered by the Korean and American Governments for the benefit of students of their respective nations. In addition, full payment, amounting to ₩24,000,000, for labor supplied by Koreans to the occupying forces has been placed in cash in the account of the new Korean Government. (For National Assembly action on the agreement, see para B, 2, below.) b. Administration On 15 September the President of the Republic of Korea and the Commanding General jointly announced the transfer of the administration of the Department of Internal Security to the Republic of Korea. (For earlier (24 Aug) document regarding control over Korean and American security forces, see W/S 154, page 5.) The transfer of government functions from the jurisdiction of the South Korean Interim Government (SKIG) to the responsible departments of the Republic of KOREA is nearing completion. All departments of the new government, with the exception of the Department of Finance, have assumed control of at least part of their normal functions. 4 DECLASSIFIED Authority N₩20745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 The following transfers have been made: SKIG Agency Republic of Korea Departments Department of Agriculture Agriculture Improvement Service Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Commerce and Industry Department of Internal Security Department of National Defense Office of Foreign Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs Department of Transportation Department of Transportation Department of Public Works Department of Police Department of Internal Affairs Department of Labor Department of Public Health & Welfare Department of Social Affairs Department of Justice Office of Chief Justice Department of Justice Department of Education Department of Education Department of Communications Department of Communications Offices National Consumer Goods Board Office of Planning Department of Public Information Office of Public Information Office of Korean Civil Service (B-2) Office of Administration 2. National Assembly a. Proceedings Consideration of a new set of House Rules drafted to replace the temporary House Rules adopted before the promulgation of the Constitution occupied the major portion of the time spent on legislative activity during the period. Discussion of the revised House Rules began on 11 September. On 14 September, the Assembly agreed to refer the draft of the new rules to the Legislative and Judicial Committee for final re-touching. The Assembly also (1) agreed to refer the Korean-American transfer negotiation instrument to the committees on Finance and Economy, Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs; (2) decided that "The official date of the Republic of Korea shall be fixed as the day of Tan Kun" (15 August, 4281); and announced receipt of the Government's law governing the purchase and collection of summer grains. During closed sessions on 16 and 17 September the provisions of the U.S.-Korean Financial and Property Agreement (para B, 1, above) were deliberated. Strong criticism of several provisions of the agreement came from the floor. Of particular concern to critics was (a) alleged failure of Korean negotiators to secure more careful appraisals and audits of properties and accounts affected by the agreement, (b) the amount of property given to the United States Government, and (c) the kind and quantity of property turned over to the security forces. 5 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 PART I President RHEE and Prime Minister LEE Bum Suk appeared in the Chamber and urged the Assembly to approve the agreement, stating that the Americans had been generous and suggesting that the Koreans show less concern for "trifles." On 17 September, LEE Chong Chun, chairman of all Standing Committees announced the "Resolution of the Committees": "It is resolved that the Committee agrees to support the Korean-American Agreement." Following the presentation of this resolution, a motion was passed to obtain Assembly approval of the agreement on 18 September, 17 September being a Korean holiday and the reason for the absence of approximately 80 Assemblymen. b. National Traitor Law The National Traitor Law, passed 07 September by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (W/S 156, page 4) provides for the establishment of a Board of Special Investigation to investigate all persons suspected of coming under the National Traitor Law. The Board is to consist of 10 National Assembly members who were (1) active in the Korean Independence Movement or (2) "possessed of fervent patriotism and of learning and virtue." This Board is charged with investigating such persons as active collaborators with the Japanese in the annexation of Korea to Japan, those appointed peers in the Japanese government and those persons who persecuted members of the Korean Independence Movement or their families. In addition, officials in the Japanese regime, those active in pro-Japanese organizations and other collaborators with the Japanese fall in a sub-category. To assist in investigations, the Board is authorized to appoint Investigation Divisions in SEOUL and the provinces, subject to approval by the National Assembly. The judicial body under the Traitor Law consists of a Special Court, elected by the National Assembly, of one Chief Justice, three Special Presiding Judges and 12 Judges. Of this group five must be from the National Assembly, six from justices of the High Court and five private citizens of "fervent patriotism and of learning and virtue." The judgement of this Court is final; there is no appeal. There is also established an Office of Special Procurator, who is elected by the National Assembly. This office consists of one Special Chief Procurator, one Assistant Chief Procurator and seven Special Procurators. These prosecuting attorneys must base each case on findings forwarded by the Board of Special Investigation plus such special investigation as can be accomplished within twenty days. A brief analysis of this law indicates two types of punishment; mandatory, which is provided for in the Constitution under Article 101 and aims at active collaborators contributing to the annexation of Korea by Japan, peers in the Japanese government and persecutors of members of the Korean Independence Movement; and discretionary, for officials in the Japanese government, those who were active in pro-Japanese organizations and other collaborators. It must be noted, however, that the Court is free to abstain from punishing any defendant where evidence is clearly established that the defendant sincerely repents his actions. This law gives exclusive responsibility for investigation to the Board and the police have no authority whatsoever. Further, it can be seen from the organization of the Board and the Special Court that the National Assembly fully controls operations of these bodies. The only National Assembly fully controls operations of these bodies. The only requirement set forth for trained legal personnel is that six judges of the Special Court must be lawyers. The constitutionality of the law in many cases is open to question. Its basis, Article 101 of the Constitution, speaks only of the 6 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 PART I enactment of penal provisions and does not provide for ex post facto prosecution nor for other deviations from the Constitution. COMMENT: Considering that the only body authorized to issue indictments is a purely political one, and that any defendant can escape punishment by "proving" repentance, the law offers unlimited possibilities for political machinations. 3. Diplomatic Committee of the Unification Society On 08 September, the Standing Committee of the SOCIETY FOR THE ACCELERATION OF UNIFIED INDEPENDENCE (S.UI) elected a Diplomatic Committee consisting of SUL I Sik, HWANG Chin Nam, CHANG Cha Il, EUM Hang Sop, PAI Song Yong and SHIN Ki un to draft a letter to UN Secretary General Trygve Lie requesting permission to appear before the General Assembly. KIM Kyu Sik, Vice-Chairman of S.UI has not yet agreed to sign the letter, stating that the signature of S.UI's chairman, KIM Koo, would suffice. COMMENT: It is considered unlikely that the Secretary General of the United Nations will facilitate the appearance of a group which steadfastly opposed the election sponsored by the United Nations. 4. Civil Unrest a. Communist Activity (1) No reports concerning communist-inspired violence have been received during the past two weeks. The present reorganization of cells and other low level units throughout South KOREA, the SOUTH KOREA LABOR PARTY'S directives to "wait," the presence of SKLP leaders in North KOREA, and police vigilance have undoubtedly been the contributing factors for this non-violence period. (2) The following reports concerning dates for communist riots and disturbances have been received during the past month from sources evaluated from F to B: (a) "The SOCIAL LABOR PARTY faction of the LABORING PEOPLES PARTY is aligning itself with the NORTH KOREA LABOR PARTY for the purpose of creating civil war in KOREA at the time of the United Nations meeting in Paris in September 1948." (F-6) (b) "Communist cells are being reorganized for period of riots and terrorism about 20 September 1948, the date the United Nations Assembly convenes in Paris." (3 reports: B-3, C-3, F-3) (c) "On 25 September 1948, riots and disturbances will take place all over South KOREA.." (F-3) (d) "Three regiments of the North Korea Peoples Army have infiltrated into South KOREA to help overthrow the South Korean government prior to 01 October 1948, Humory Day." (F-6) (e) "In November 1948, there will be rioting all over South KOREA.." (C-3) (f) "Agitation movements against the South Korean people will begin before the end of November 1948." (C-3) (g) "Fighting will take place throughout South KOREA in December 1948." (B-3) COMMENT: As in the past, several of the above reports include promises of invasion by the North Korean armed forces to coincide with the uprising. (see Part II, B, 4). 7 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 PART I b. Communist Violence (1) Weekly Violence Summary - Negative (2) Delayed Reports Covering Last Week - Negative (3) 1948 Communist Activities in South KOREA | | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT* | TOTAL | |--------------------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-------|-------| | Attacks on towns | | | | 5 | 73 | 9 | 1 | | | 88 | | Attacks on police | | 130 | 118 | 50 | 86 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 420 | | Police killed | | 33 | 20 | 15 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 5 | | 112 | | Rightists killed | 1 | 14 | 14 | 81 | 144 | 51 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 317 | | Communists killed | 1 | 74 | 75 | 70 | 155 | 83 | 33 | 22 | 1 | 514 | | Disorders, demonstrations, arson, attacks on rightists' offices and homes | 6 | 118 | 69 | 126 | 196 | 81 | 24 | 12 | | 632 | | Attacks on government buildings | | 9 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 3 | | | | 37 | | Sabotage (Communications) | 14 | 53 | 58 | 32 | 57 | 8 | 1 | | | 223 | | Sabotage (RR lines) | 1 | 12 | 6 | | 8 | | 1 | | | 28 | | Sabotage (Locomotives) | | 50 | | | 24 | | | | | 74 | | Sabotage (roads) | | 13 | 3 | 3 | 5 | | | 1 | | 26 | | Sabotage (bridges) | | 6 | 9 | 5 | 4 | | | | | 24 | | Sabotage (power) | | | | | 7 | 1 | | | | 8 | | Strikes (labor) | | 14 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 1 | | | | 40 | | Strikes (school) | | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | | | | | 25 | *Incomplete c. Other Violence (1) No rightist-inspired acts of violence were reported during the period. (2) A summary of acts of violence on the part of persons of unknown political affiliation as reported up to 17 September 1948, is as follows: | | Seoul | Kyonggi Do | Kangwon Do | Chungchong Hukdo | Chungchong Pakto | Cholla Hwado | Cholla Pakto | Kyongsang Hwado | Kyongsang Pakto | Cheju Do | TOTAL | |------------------------------|-------|------------|------------|------------------|------------------|--------------|--------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------|-------| | Assassination | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | Anti-grain collection | | | | | | | | | | | | | Political terrorism | | | | | | | | | | | | | Demonstration | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | Resistance to arrest | | | | | | | | | | | | | Arson | | | | | | | | | | | | | Unclassified | | | | | | | | | | | | | Attacks on police | | | | | | | | | | | | | Attacks on individuals | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sabotage (communications) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sabotage (railroad lines) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sabotage (power) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sabotage (bridges) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Strikes (labor) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Strikes (school) | | | | | | | | | | | | DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 8 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 PART I (3) Delayed Reports Covering Last Week Delayed reports of incidents involving other than communists which occurred during the week ending 10 September but which were not carried in last week's summary are: [TABLE WITH COLUMNS: Seoul, Kyanggi Do, Kangwon Do, Chungchong Pukto, Chungchong Hamdo, Cholla Hamdo, Kyongsang Namdo, Kyongsang Pukto, Cheju Do, TOTAL] Assassination 1 1 Anti-grain collection Political terrorism Demonstration Resistance to arrest Arson Unclassified Attacks on police Attacks on individuals Sabotage (communications) Sabotage (railroad lines) Sabotage (power) Sabotage (bridges) Strikes (labor) Strikes (school (4) Monthly summary of acts of violence on the part of persons of unknown political affiliation: JULY AUG SEPT* TOTAL Assassination 7 2 9 Anti-grain collection 9 1 10 Political terrorism 1 1 2 Demonstration 15 9 1 25 Resistance to arrest 5 9 14 Arson 2 3 5 Unclassified 11 11 22 Attacks on Police 1 1 Attacks on individuals 4 1 5 Sabotage (communications) 1 4 3 8 Sabotage (railroad lines) Sabotage (power) Sabotage (bridges) Strikes (labor) Strikes (school) 1 1 *Incomplete 9 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 CIVIL UNREST HWANGHAE-DO KANGWON-DO 38° △ Chunchon △Seoul YELLOW SEA KYONGGI-DO □ CHUNGCHONG PUKTO CHUNGCHONG △Chongju KYONGSANG NAMDO PUKTO Taejon△ CHOLLA-PUKTO △Chonju △ Taegu ⊠ △ Kwangju KYONGSANG-NAMDO CHOLLANAMDO △Pusan N ↑ SOUTH KOREA Cheju CHEJU-DO □ DEMONSTRATION INVOLVING UNKNOWNS ⊠ POLICEMAN KILLED BY UNKNOWNS 10 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 PART I C. WAR POTENTIAL 1. Economic - Cost of Living Cost of living items in SEOUL were steady during the week ending 11 September. There was no reported change in any prices checked. Wholesale prices in South Korea rose in August to 186% of the 1947 average, compared with 171% in July 1948 and 98% in August 1947. The upward trend during the last three months was preceded by five months of general price stability. In August prices rose on grains, fish, raw cotton and salt. Substantial increases in controlled prices for rice, barley and wheat were authorized 01 August and for salt 15 August. Smaller increases in the price of firewood, lumber and rubber shoes were partly offset by lower prices for cotton yarn, cotton shirting, paper, hemp and soy beans. The 1948 summer grain collection program was reported to be 99.1% completed on 9 September. Most provinces exceeded their quotas, whereas CHOLLA NAMDO fell substantially below quota. Source: National Price Administration Cost of Living Items Checked In SEOUL (06-11 Sept) Polished rice Matches Flannelette Barley Beef Kwang-mak (cloth) Wheat flour Pork Silk myungju (cloth) Soy beans Eggs Silk sork son (cloth) Red beans Radishes Anthracite Dried myungtai (fish) Korean cabbage Firewood Sugar Rubber shoes Cotton socks Salt Laundry soap Charcoal Soy sauce RICE PRICE SUMMARY MONTHLY AVERAGES* Unit: 1 small metric Mal (13.48 lbs) JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG 17 SEPT SEOUL 817 821 778 721 814 985 1158 1262 1250 KANGWON DO 870 946 849 825 898 1012 1136 ** CHUNGCHONG BUKTO 645 723 719 660 795 1037 990 CHUNGCHONG NAMDO 793 728 674 634 726 946 1037 KYONGSANG BUKTO 594 605 552 605 641 888 1081 KYONGSANG NAMDO 715 778 715 704 733 955 1070 CHOLLA BUKTO 669 669 605 623 773 935 1036 CHOLLA NAMDO 614 633 559 595 801 963 1109 CHEJU DO 806 748 679 814 806 1081 1879 AVERAGE 713 744 681 725 777 978 1166 Source: National Price Administration (except 10 Sept price). * 10 September price: Source: Open market (1) in SEOUL; price is for the metric small mal (13.48 lbs or 10 liters) ** August provincial averages not available. 11 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 XXIV CORPS G-2 W/S #157 PART I COMMENT: The sharp fall in price of rice in SEOUL from 1416 last week to 1250 this week is reported by market operators to be due to anticipation of the National Assembly refusing to order a rice collection. Currency Exchange Rate: U. S. dollar equals 1000-1100 won. (OPEN MARKET) Military script dollar equals 400-450 won 2. Population a. Surrendered and Disarmed No Change: 179,920 b. Progress of Repatriation This Period To Date Japanese Civilians Arriving From N of 38° N° KOREA, CHINA and MANCHURIA No Report 243,532 Japanese Evacuated to JAPAN 0 884,933 Total Koreans Returning Unknown 2,165,210 Total Repatriates Moved Since 15 August 1945 0 3,050,143 Koreans Apprehended While Attempting Illegal Entry Into JAPAN 0 25,243 Source: G-3, XXIV Corps D. PSYCHOLOGICAL Seoul newspapers editors furnished no extensive discussion of the establishment of the government in North Korea nor further comment on the National Traitor Law, the chief developments in Korea during the preceding period. The North Korea election was largely ignored by the right-wing press, while leftist CHOSUN CHOONG ANG ILDO (Korean Central Daily News) carried the usual heavy proportion of "news items" upholding the Communist cause. The editors of this paper gave prominence to the acclamations of the new "central" government formulated by North and South Korean Communist spokesmen and organizations. President RHEE, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the National Assembly, members of the Cabinet, and numerous private citizens of KOREA called on the Commanding General on 15 and 16 September to express sympathy and regret at the death of 36 American soldiers in the train accident which occurred on 14 September at CHOCHIWON (1026-1527). At the end of the period covered by this summary, press reaction to the train wreck began to appear in SEOUL dailies. In some instances, reporters' coverage of the accident were written to reflect the responsibility of Minister of Transportation MIN Hi Sik, a holdover from SKIG, for failing to prevent loss of life through faulty administration and failure to accept the blame for the previous serious accidents on South Korea's railways, and some editors indicated a desire to propagandize this shortcoming, along with the pro-Japanese charges already leveled at MIN, to secure his removal from the Cabinet. E. SABOTAGE AND ESPIONAGE Three reports have been recently received concerning the targets being assigned to North Korean espionage agents dispatched to South Korea. These targets include political conditions and leaders; location, strength and equipment of police boxes; location and production of important South Korean factories; the type, effectiveness and number of weapons possessed by the Korean Constabulary; the extent to which the Korean Constabulary and Police are being trained by U.S. troops; methods used to guard villages along the 38th parallel and the language (Korean or Chinese) used in police reports. (C-3) 12 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND745070