1956 South Korean presidential election explained

Country:	Republic of Korea
Flag Year:	1949
Type:	presidential
Previous Election:	1952 South Korean presidential election
Previous Year:	1952
Next Election:	March 1960 South Korean presidential election
Election Date:	15 May 1956
Module:	Embed: yes Election Name: Presidential election Image1: Rhee Syng-Man in 1948.jpg Candidate1: Syngman Rhee Party1: Liberal Party (South Korea) Popular Vote1: 5,046,437 Percentage1: 69.99% Candidate2: Cho Bong-am Party2: Independent politician Popular Vote2: 2,163,808 Percentage2: 30.01% President Before Election: Syngman Rhee Before Party: Liberal Party (South Korea) After Election: Syngman Rhee After Party: Liberal Party (South Korea) Module: Embed: yes Election Name: Vice-Presidential election Image1: John Myun.jpg Candidate1: Chang Myon Party1: Democratic Party (South Korea, 1955) Popular Vote1: 4,012,654 Percentage1: 46.43% Vice-President Candidate2: Lee Ki Poong Party2: Liberal Party (South Korea) Popular Vote2: 3,805,502 Percentage2: 44.03% Before Election: Ham Tae-young Before Party: Independent (politician) After Election: Chang Myon After Party: Democratic Party (South Korea, 1955)

Presidential and vice-presidential elections were held in South Korea on 15 May 1956.^[1] The result was a victory for Syngman Rhee, who won 70.0% of the vote. Voter turnout was 94.4%.^[2] Rhee, who at that time held a virtual monopoly on political power, was opposed by Shin Ik-hee and Cho Bong-am. Shin died before the election by disease, and Cho campaigned on a platform of peaceful reunification in opposition to Rhee's policy of "March North and unify Korea".^[3] Cho exceeded expectations by receiving over 30% of the vote. Three years later, Cho was accused of violating the National Security Law and executed.^[4]

Results

President

By region

Region	Syngman Rhee		Cho Bong-am
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Seoul	205,253	63.3	25,631	36.7
Gyeonggi	607,757	77.1	44,967	22.9
Gangwon	644,693	90.8	10,516	9.2
North Chungcheong	353,201	86.1	25,875	13.9
South Chungcheong	530,531	77.1	56,590	22.9
North Jeolla	424,674	60.2	109,490	39.8
South Jeolla	741,623	72.1	99,885	27.9
North Gyeongsang	621,530	55.3	129,791	44.7
South Gyeongsang	830,492	62.3	288,654	37.7
Jeju	86,683	87.9	6,105	12.1
Total	5,046,437	70.0	797,504	30.0
Source: National Election Commission^[5]

Vice-President

By region

Region	Chang Myon		Lee Ki-poong		Lee Beom-seok		Yun Chi-young		Paeg Song-uk		Yi Yun-yong
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
Seoul	451,037	76.9	95,454	16.3	21,530	3.7	12,445	2.1	3,802	0.6	2,285	0.4
Gyeonggi	450,140	44.9	424,104	42.3	55,621	5.5	40,720	4.1	25,216	2.5	6,768	0.7
Gangwon	103,493	13.6	611,704	80.2	23,612	3.1	14,046	1.8	7,052	0.9	3,225	0.4
North Chungcheong	159,310	33.7	245,218	51.8	28,264	6.0	14,411	3.0	24,727	5.2	1,347	0.3
South Chungcheong	374,209	43.7	364,750	42.6	51,589	6.0	29,054	3.4	31,895	3.7	4,675	0.5
North Jeolla	428,410	51.0	338,283	40.3	28,954	3.4	25,430	3.0	15,596	1.9	2,738	0.3
South Jeolla	529,341	43.7	549,279	45.3	33,890	2.8	25,979	2.1	70,628	5.8	3,294	0.3
North Gyeongsang	715,342	54.4	475,754	36.1	41,037	3.1	38,188	2.9	40,544	3.1	5,303	0.4
South Gyeongsang	778,903	52.5	623,409	42.0	30,264	2.0	38,288	2.6	7,899	0.5	4,575	0.3
Jeju	22,469	19.9	77,547	68.6	7,818	6.9	2,717	2.4	2,196	1.9	216	0.2
Total	4,012,654	46.4	3,805,502	44.0	317,579	3.7	241,278	2.8	230,555	2.7	34,926	0.4

Notes and References

1. [Dieter Nohlen]
2. Nohlen et al., p464
3. Kim, H-A (2004). Korea's development under Park Chung Hee. RoutledgeCurzon, pp. 42 - 43.
4. Kim, p. 42.
5. Web site: 개표현황. live. 14 April 2021. National Election Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20170710143922/http://info.nec.go.kr/main/showDocument.xhtml?electionId=0000000000&topMenuId=VC&secondMenuId=VCCP09 . 2017-07-10 .