President of South Korea
Appointed President of Korea of the Hansong Provisional Government
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Syngman Rhee Biography and Timeline
Follow Syngman Rhee through 41 dated historical records for South Korea.
Syngman Rhee, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
41Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1919–1960Years on this page
1919
Provisional Government
Appointed President of Korea of the Hansong Provisional Government
Conference of Paris
Declares Korean independence at the Paris Peace Conference
Independence of Korea
Declares Korean independence at the Paris Peace Conference
Independence of South Korea
Declares Korean independence at the Paris Peace Conference
President of South Korea
Appointed President of Korea of the Shanghai Provisional Government
Provisional Government
Appointed President of Korea of the Shanghai Provisional Government
1920
Government
Assumes duties as President of the Provisional Government
Provisional Government
Assumes duties as President of the Provisional Government
1921
Independence of Korea
Returns to Honolulu to continue leadership of Korean independence
Independence of South Korea
Returns to Honolulu to continue leadership of Korean independence
1932
Independence of Korea
Seeks support from the League of Nations for Korean independence
Independence of South Korea
Seeks support from the League of Nations for Korean independence
1945
Exile of Syngman Rhee
Returns to Korea after 33 yrs in exile
1946
Independence of Korea
Organizes the National Asociation for the Acceleration of Korean independence. Appointed President of the South Korean Democratic Council of the Republic of Korea
Independence of South Korea
Organizes the National Asociation for the Acceleration of Korean independence. Appointed President of the South Korean Democratic Council of the Republic of Korea
President of South Korea
Appointed President of the South Korean Democratic Council of the Republic of Korea
Independence of South Korea
Calls for the establishment of a Government in South Korea
Independence of South Korea
Visits the USA to gain support for the establishment of a Korean Government
1947
Independence of South Korea
Visits Chiang Kai-shek to gain support for the establishment of a Korean Government
1948
President of South Korea
Appointed President of South Korea
President of South Korea
Appointed President of the Republic of Korea
Constitution of South Korea
The Government of the Republic of Korea is formally founded
Independence of South Korea
The Government of the Republic of Korea is formally founded
Visit to Japan at the invitation of General Douglas
Visits Japan at the invitation of General Douglas MacArthur
Constitution of South Korea
The Government of the Republic of Korea is formally founded. Enacts the Constitution of the Republic of Korea
Independence of South Korea
The Government of the Republic of Korea is formally founded. Enacts the Constitution of the Republic of Korea
1949
Withdrawal Negotiations
Organizes a national campaign against proposed US withdrawal from Korea
Conference of Chinhae
Hosts the Sinon Conference of Chinhae, attended by Chiang Kai-shek
1950
Reform of Land Ownership
Promulgates the Land Reform Act
Declaration of War
North Korean communists invade South Korea
Invasion of Korea
Organizes a counter-offensive & drives the communists across 38th parallel
1951
Peace
Truce talks begin. Opposes the UNs attempt to sign a separate armistice
1952
President of South Korea
Appointed President of the Republic of Korea, 2nd term
1956
President of South Korea
Appointed President of the Republic of Korea, 3rd term
1958
Visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Ngo Dinh
Visits Vietnam at the invitation of Ngo Dinh Diem
1959
Economy of South Korea
Establishes a 5 yr program for economic development
1960
President of South Korea
Appointed President of the Republic of Korea, 4th term
Election
Resigns afte alleged election irregularities
Resignation of Syngman Rhee
Resigns afte alleged election irregularities
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.