Syngman Rhee (born the March 26th 1875 and deceased the July 19th 1965), South Korean statesman , first president of the Republic of Korea or South Korea (1948-1960). Rhee was born on April 26th, 1875, with Pyongsan, in the province of Hwanghae, today in North Korea. It made its studies with the the United States in the universities George Washington, Harvard and Princeton, and obtained a doctorate in philosophy.

Member of the nationalist movement, Rhee was imprisoned between 1897 and 1904. In 1919, whereas its country was under Japanese domination, he became chief of the Korean government in exile, based with Hawaii. To this station, which it occupied until 1941, it led countryside for the international recognition of the independence of the Korea. In 1945, after the defeat of the Japan during the Second world war and the release of Korea, it returned in its country. He was elected in 1948 president of the Republic of Korea, which he controlled on a dictatorial mode with the support of the the United States.

The war of Korea (1950-1953) ratifies the partition of the Korean peninsula. Rhee was re-elected into 1952,1956 and 1960, mandates during which it set up several reforms of education and the land and buildings. Its capacity became increasingly totalitarian and, because of irregularities made at the time of its last election, of violent demonstrations burst, obliging it to resign in 1960 and to leave the country. Rhee lived with Hawaii until its death.