[U.S. military government restrained the execution in October 1946]

[U.S. military government restrained the execution in October 1946]

The two twists and turns of the tragedy of our modern history after liberation, the Jeju 4.3 Incident and the Yeosun Incident, still have not settled the issues of Haewon (解冤), liquidation, and reconciliation.

Yeosu and Suncheon are tragedies that can never be easily forgotten, such as Jeju 4.3 which started on Mar. 1, 1947, and Yeosu and Suncheon which started on Oct. 19, 1948. However, social conflicts and unrest in the liberation regime preceded these events in Daegu.

According to U.S. military records, October 1946 saw a series of civil disturbances across South Korea, and the first bloodshed occurred in Daegu on Oct. 1, 1946. The military authorities and the police who assisted them have named it "Taegu riots." In a way, it is possible to think that Daegu became the headquarters of conservatism today was the result of the situation and shock of that time.

The riots in Daegu leave the U.S. military government struggling with punishment for those involved. However, Hodge, the head of the military government, decides the degree of participation through a military court and sentences severe punishment, including the death penalty, but actually responds with a conciliatory attitude in consideration of the political situation.

Had Ha-ji made a different choice and given up persuading MacArthur, it is believed that a large amount of executions by the military government could not have been avoided.

The article below is part of what is recorded in the History of the United States Army Forces in Korea (Part III), Chapter IV Police and Public Security, and Part Two The Quasi-Revolt of October 1946 (page 1615).
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Punishment of Riot Leaders

About 2,250 people were arrested in and around Daegu. Most were of course released immediately, but were tried in military court as did similar suspects in other regions. Fifty-seven were sentenced to death, and the rest were sentenced to a variety of sentences ranging from 30 days in prison to life in prison. However, not a single execution was actually carried out. Later, General Haji told the Wedemeyer Mission, "Although there was sufficient evidence regarding their activities, by Western standards, hanging them was warranted, but there were expected to be political repercussions, so I tried them again and they were commuted to life imprisonment." "I reviewed the case and turned it over to General MacArthur, who and his lawyers acknowledged that they were all guilty, but agreed that the political repercussions would be too great."
The arrest, trial and punishment of the leaders had a positive effect on Koreans, especially military officials who submitted their resignations scared of the riot and employees working for the military administration. 군정 당국이 이 사태에 대해 확고하고 단호한 태도를 보임으로써 한국인들을 안심시켰고, 그들은 사직하려던 생각을 바꿨다(In Taegu and the surrounding areas, approximately 2,250 persons were arrested. Many, of course, were soon released; many others, however, were tried in military courts, as were similar offenders in other provinces. Some 57 death sentences were handed down, with other sentences ranging from thirty days to life imprisonment. None of the death sentences were actually carried out, however. As General Hodge later told the Wedemeyer Mission, "There was ample evidence of their activity," but the sentences were commuted to life imprisonment "because of the political repercussions that would come, although by any occidental standards, those criminals should be hanged. I reviewed them and sent the cases over to General MacArthur, and he and his J.A. all agreed that the guilt was there, but the political repercussions would have been too much."
The apprehension, trial, and punishment of the ringleaders had a salutary effect on the Koreans, especially the officials and employees of Military Government, who had been intimidated by the riots into tendering their resignations. The firm manner in which the Military dealt with the situation reassured the Koreans; they changed their minds about resigning).

#the death penalty