The Korean Youth Association (Daehan Youth Corps; ) was a right-wing youth organisation in South Korea formed on 19 December 1948, through the merger of various right-wing youth groups, such as the Northwest Youth Association, centred around the Daedong Youth League.
Following the 1952 South Korean presidential election, as internal strife within both the ruling Liberal Party and the Korean Youth Association persisted for an extended period, Syngman Rhee issued a statement on 10 September 1953, announcing the dissolution of the Korean Youth Association and the incorporation of its members into the civil militia.
History As infighting among right-wing youth groups intensified and new organisations continued to spring up, Syngman Rhee ordered the unification of these groups. Driven also by the need to keep Lee Beom-seok's rapidly growing Korean National Youth Association in check, Rhee's directive led to the creation of the Korean Youth Association; this organisation functioned as a quasi-state entity with Rhee serving as its president. Its supreme committee members included Chang Taek-sang, Ji Cheong-cheon, No Tae-jun, Yu Chin-san, Suh Sang-chul and Kang Nak-won.
It was composed of 10 provincial regions, 17 regional regions, 180 city regions and 4,230 county and township regions. By 31 December 1948, it had grown into a massive organisation with a membership reaching 3 million. The Korean Youth Association trained its members, appointed them as reserve officers, and operated under a dual system comprising both the regular military and the youth organisation. Subsequently, following the 1949 disbandment of the National Defence Army, South Korea's reserve military force, the Korean Youth Association was reorganised into the Youth Defence Corps and utilised as a reserve military organisation. Later, during the Korean War, the Youth Defence Corps served as the foundation for the establishment of the National Defence Corps.
Historical election results
Historical general election results Year Election National Assembly members Elected candidates(constituency elected/candidates) Votes Vote share 1948 1st general election 200 1/4 7,016 0.1% 1950 2nd general election 210 10 227,539 3.3%
Historical local election results Year Election Provincial council members elected City council members elected Township council members elected Township council members elected Number elected Election rate Number elected Election rate Number elected Election rate Number elected Election rate 1952 1952 local election 34/306 40/378 229/1115 2574/16051 See also
Syngman Rhee Shin Song-mo Kim Du-han Daedong Youth League North-West Youth Association Korean National Youth Association
References