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GENERAL HEADQUARTERS FAR EAST COMMAND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SECTION, GENERAL STAFF TABLE OF CONTENTS Selected items for the Information of Commanders NO. and Staff, of the Far East Command DATE 2382 18 March 1949 KOREA Military, Political, Economic, Social Situation, Press Review, Civil Intelligence, Miscellaneous Selected items for the Information of Commanders and Staff, of the Far East Command No. 2382 POLITICAL REPORT 1. Recent Developments: a. Newspaper Suspended: The Korean Republic's Office of Public Information suspended publication of the "Kook Chei Shin Mun," one of Seoul's two largest newspapers, on 5 Mar. The newspaper has been a consistent supporter of Prime Minister LEE Bum Suk. (a) Source Comment: Government spokesman reported that the newspaper was sus- pended because of its policy of underplaying certain government releases and allotting excessive space to material less popular, with the present administration. The weak Government complaint is additional proof that only in name do Koreans enjoy freedom of the press. (a) b. Youths Join New Groups: Former members of the Korean National Youth Corps, formerly headed by LEE Bun Suk, reportedly are joining a new group called the Eagle Friendship Society. The new organization is obtaining funds from several Seoul business enterprises and by undercover barter with North Korea. (B-3) (a) Source Comment: Prime Minister LEE was persuaded by President RHEE to bring his organization into an amalgamated youth group (Intell. Summary 2300), the Great Korean Youth Corps. LEE probably is supporting the new organization in order to retain his grip on a large faction of Korean youth. (a) c. Han Lattist Party: The Cheju Friendship Association, avowedly organized to promote the welfare of the people on troubled Cheju Island, is being organized in South Korean mainland cities. With a membership confined to former residents of Cheju Island, the group is suspected of fronting for Communists. (C-3) (a) Comment: If this report is true, the Communists may be attempting to build up their strength on Cheju Island, where they have intimidated a large percentage of the population into following their doctrine. Although guerrilla forces have been active on the island for several months, reports indicate that they are being brought under control gradually by loyal forces. The Communist rule-or-ruin policy has been demonstrated through a scorched earth program, including the burning of the provincial capitol on 3 Jan (Intell. Summary 2315). The Korean Army has met marked success in eliminating rebels from the island, and USAFIK estimates that only 300-500 remain there.