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Syngman Rhee, first president of South Korea and uncompromising leader during the Korean War, was in fact born in the North. Born 26 March 1875, his family were of modest means and economic hardship forced their relocation to Seoul in 1877, when Rhee was only 2. He had four siblings and, following an early Confucian upbringing, was primarily educated by Christian missionaries. Exactly when Rhee became a Christian is unclear, though he was later to claim it was when he was in prison as a young man.
- http://www.historyinanhour.com/2014/03/26/syngman-rhee-summary/

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Two years later, this 16 year old, he led and organised the struggle against the Japanese Jilin-Hoiryung railway project, which they were building for the invasion of Manchuria. Between 30 June and 2 July 1930 he called a meeting of the leading members of the Young Communist League and the Anti Imperialist Youth League at Chialun to explain his Juche theory of self reliance which will be the policy for the coming Korean revolution. On 25 April 1932 he founded the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) - not bad for a 20 year old.

-http://www.globaltravels.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/n_korea/kim_il_sung.htm

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Kim il Sung's Korea was a highly controlled, oppressive country which the population was given no contact with the west. Kim used propaganda to foster the ideaology that Korea was a great country and that ever was find. Kim also tried to foster the ecomonic concept of self-reliance. After aid from the USSR ended in the 70's the North fell into poverty and became even more

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Kim came back to Korea in 1945, when Korea was dived upon the 38th parallel. Kim founded the People's Committee of North Korea which was a communist group, and was later renamed to the Korean Workers Party. In 1948, North Korea was founded as Democratic People's Republic of Korea with Kim as its premier

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An exert from a meeting between Kim il - Sung and Stalin in North Korea 

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An exert from a meeting between Kim il - Sung and Stalin in North Korea 

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Stalin asks what kind of aid.
Kim Il Sung answers--economic and cultural.
Stalin asks what precisely is needed.

Kim Il Sung says that they have confirmed a two year plan for the restoration and development of the national economy. They need economic assistance to fulfill this plan and to strengthen the foundation of the economy. They need machines, equipment and spare parts for industry, communications, transport and also for other branches of the national economy. They also need technical assistance: sending Soviet specialists to Korea, drafting plans for the construction of new objects (factories and plants), conducting geological exploratory work.

Stalin asks what kind of objects?

Kim answers, e.g., irrigation structures [at] Anju, the construction of which they have now moved toward, but they do not have enough specialists, and also the restoration and completion of the Seisin [Cheongjin] metallurgical plant, repair of the Sufun hydroelectric plant and others.

Stalin asks if there is iron ore in Korea.
Kim answers that there is very much iron ore in Korea.
Stalin says that it is possible to render this assistance, and it is also possible to provide specialists.

Kim indicates that until now trade between the two countries has been conducted successfully, but in the future, for the fulfillment of the two year plan, they need to import from the Soviet Union equipment, steam engines, electric locomotives, spare parts and equipment for the textile industry. But exports from Korea will not cover the imports, therefore they need credit from the Soviet government.

Stalin says "Fine" and asks in what amount they need credit.

Kim answers from 40 to 50 million American dollars.
Stalin--fine

http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/112127

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Kim Il-sung was born near Pyongyang on April 15 1912. His family moved to Manchuria in the 1920s due to the Japanese occupation of Korea. Kim who spoke Chinese, would become a Korean freedom fighter, against the Japanese in China during the 30's and taking the name Il-sung coming from a famed local guerrilla fighter. Kim eventually relocated to the Soviet Union for special training, where he joined the country's Communist Party.

Kim was in the Soviet Union, and he remained there until after WW2. In which time he was in charge of a unit in the Soviet army. Kim Jong Suk was his first wife and they had their son, Kim Jong Il.

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Presdient Truman introducing Syngman Rhee

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Kim il Sung making a speech, and a Lenon painting in the background

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Rhee used dictatorial powers even prior to the Korean war. Rhee was educated in the USA. To prevent usurping of his power, Rhee had a internal security force run by Kim Chang-ryong. Chang-ryong, was allowed to detain and torture suspected Communists and North Korean agents, and as a result his political oppersation often were tortured under this remiege. Rhee was strongly against communism.

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During WW2, Rhee spent time in Washington D.C trying to get a allied promise of Korean independence. As a result Rhee became the only known Korean leader to the USA administration.

After the war, and Japan left Korea, Rhee was returned to Korea as a member of the Provisional Government, he campaigned for unification and independence of Korea. He was elected President in 1948 and re-elected in 1952, '56, '60

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Born on April 18, 1875 in Haeju, Hwanghae-namdo, North Korea to a upper class family.

In 1877, His family moved to Seoul. Rhee education was Pai-Chai School, an American Methodist school. In 1896 he formed a Korean independence club from Japan.

In 1904 he was released from prison, and went to the US. In 1910 he graduated from Princeton University with a Ph.D.

He briefly returned to Korea, however he didn't agree with the Japanese rule, and went to Hawaii. He spent time as a princpal, and as a spokeperson for Korean independence.