Seoul in WW2 History | World War II Database

15 Feb 1888

Korea

Yi Dae-hyong was born in Hanseongbu (now Seoul), Korea. ww2dbase [Ji Cheong-cheon | Seoul | CPC]

20 Oct 1897

Korea

Yi Eu was born in the Deoksu Palace in Seoul, Korea. ww2dbase [Yi Un | Seoul | CPC]

9 Sep 1945

Korea

Americans Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid and Lieutenant General John Hodge accepted the surrender of all Japanese forces in Korea in the General Government Building in Seoul, Korea. Unaware of previous Japanese-Korean agreements on the transfer of power, Hodge ordered the Japanese occupation administration to remain in place, triggering anger among Koreans. Realizing the mistake made in his ignorance, Hodge quickly rescinded his order. However, he refused to recognize any of the political organizations vying for power in Korea, solely relying on his own military administration to make decisions despite of his staff's less than perfect understanding of the political situation. ww2dbase [Japan's Surrender | Keijo General Government Building | Seoul | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 9 Sep 1945

Thomas Kinkaid and John Hodge accepted Japanese surrender in the General Government Building in Seoul, Korea, 9 Sep 1945

Japanese flag being lowered during the surrender ceremony at the General Government Building, Seoul, Korea, 9 Sep 1945

US flag being raised during the surrender ceremony at the General Government Building, Seoul, Korea, 9 Sep 1945

Japanese Surrender ceremonies at the Government Building, Seoul, Korea, 9 Sep 1945. The Japanese delegation is on the right side of the table and the US representatives are on the left.

20 Oct 1945

Korea

A ceremony was held in Seoul, Korea welcoming the entry of US troops. Rhee Syngman made his first speech on Korean soil during this ceremony after his four-decade-long exile; in the speech he denounced the method in which Soviet Union employed to occupy northern Korea. ww2dbase [Seoul | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 20 Oct 1945

Ki-51 aircraft at Gimpo Airfield, Seoul, Korea, 20 Oct 1945

19 Dec 1945

Photo(s) dated 19 Dec 1945

Korean Provisional President Kim Gu with other officials at a sporting event, Seoul, Korea, 19 Dec 1945

22 Apr 1947

Photo(s) dated 22 Apr 1947

Kim Gu, Ji Cheong-cheon, Kim Yu-sik, Rhee Syngman, and Fraziska Donner at Gimpo Airport, Korea, 22 Apr 1947

24 Jul 1948

Korea

Rhee Syngman was sworn in as the President of the Republic of Korea at the General Government Building in Seoul, Korea. ww2dbase [Keijo General Government Building | Seoul | CPC]

15 Aug 1948

Korea

The Republic of Korea was declared in Seoul with Syngman Rhee as its first president. The new republic only had control over the southern half of Korea but claimed sovereignty over the entire peninsula. ww2dbase [Seoul | CPC]

26 Jun 1949

Korea

Kim Gu was assassinated by Ahn Doo-hee in Seoul, South Korea. ww2dbase [Kim Gu | Seoul | CPC]

5 Jul 1949

Photo(s) dated 5 Jul 1949

20 Sep 1950

Photo(s) dated 20 Sep 1950

Marine Col Chesty Puller (standing) visited by Army General Douglas MacArthur (seated) as Puller pushed toward Seoul, South Korea, Sep 20 1950. Driving is Army MGen Ned Almond and in the rear are Marine Generals MGen OP Smith & LGen Lem Shepherd.

25 Sep 1950

Photo(s) dated 25 Sep 1950

US Marine Colonel Chesty Puller (left) speaks with Assistant Division Commander Brigadier General Edward Craig overlooking Seoul, South Korea, 25 Sep 1950, photo 1 of 2

29 Sep 1950

Korea

A ceremony was held at the the General Government Building in Seoul, Korea to celebrate the recapture of the city by the forces of the United Nations. ww2dbase [Keijo General Government Building | Seoul | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 29 Sep 1950

Ceremony marking the return of Seoul to Republic of Korea control, General Government Building, Seoul, Korea, 29 Sep 1950, photo 1 of 3

Ceremony marking the return of Seoul to Republic of Korea control, General Government Building, Seoul, Korea, 29 Sep 1950, photo 2 of 3

Ceremony marking the return of Seoul to Republic of Korea control, General Government Building, Seoul, Korea, 29 Sep 1950, photo 3 of 3

3 Oct 1950

Photo(s) dated 3 Oct 1950

Marine Commandant Clifton Cates (left) receives the first flag flown over the recaptured Seoul, South Korea from 1st Marine Commander Col Chesty Puller, Oct 3 1950.

22 Nov 1950

Photo(s) dated 22 Nov 1950

Marine Col Chesty Puller commanding the 1st Marines in Korea, Nov 22, 1950.

21 Feb 1951

Photo(s) dated 21 Feb 1951

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur inspecting troops of the 24th Infantry Division at Gimpo airfield near Seoul, Korea, 21 Feb 1951

15 Aug 1955

Korea

Yi Kang, Prince Imperial Eui, passed away in Seongrak Manor in Seoul, South Korea. ww2dbase [Yi Kang | Seoul | CPC]

15 Jan 1957

Korea

Ji Cheong-cheon passed away in Seoul, Korea. ww2dbase [Ji Cheong-cheon | Seoul | CPC]

1 Mar 1962

Korea

The South Korean government praised the 29 Apr 1932 attack by Yun Bong-gil in Shanghai, China that killed two high ranking Japanese leaders and posthumously awarded Yun the Republic of Korea Cordon of the Order of Merit for National Foundation. ww2dbase [Yun Bong-gil | Seoul | CPC]

22 Jun 1965

Korea

In Seoul, Korea, Japan and South Korea signed a treaty to normalize diplomatic relations. ww2dbase [Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea | San Francisco Peace Conference | Seoul | CPC]

21 Aug 1986

Korea

The General Government Building in Seoul, Korea became the home of the National Museum of Korea. ww2dbase [Keijo General Government Building | Seoul | CPC]

15 Aug 1995

Korea

The demolition work on the General Government Building in Seoul, Korea began. The dome was the first structure to be removed. ww2dbase [Keijo General Government Building | Seoul | CPC]

13 Nov 1996

Korea

The demolition work on the General Government Building in Seoul, Korea was completed. ww2dbase [Keijo General Government Building | Seoul | CPC]

1 Jun 2006

Photo(s) dated 1 Jun 2006

Korean War-era South Korean M1 Garand and M1 Carbine rifles on display at the Yongsan War Memorial, Seoul, Korea, 1 Jun 2006

17 Sep 2007

Korea

The Investigative Commission on Pro-Japanese Collaborators' Property, an official Korean government body, published a second list containing 202 Koreans who collaborated with the Japanese occupation government. On the same day, the Seoul administrative court rejected a lawsuit against the commission to remove the names of two former Korean royal family members, who allegedly attended the ceremony during which Japan annexed Korea. ww2dbase [Seoul | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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