Washington formed an interdepartmental committee on Korea before Truman's congressional address as conditions in the American occupation zone deteriorated. Unrest persisted, coalition politics failed, conservative leaders resisted moderates, and the interim legislature stalled land reform while attacking trusteeship. The economy compounded the crisis through dependence on northern electricity and fertilizer, refugee inflows, railroad spare-part shortages, and rice-distribution failures. Syngman Rhee's lobbying network in Washington and growing congressional attention added pressure as senior officials considered replacing occupation commander John R. Hodge.
Chapter · 2:42:39-2:48:17
The U.S. occupation crisis in Korea, 1947
A reading from Rethinking the Korean War surveys political paralysis, economic breakdown, right-wing pressure, and Washington lobbying behind the U.S. search for a new Korea policy in 1947.