Shin Dongjihoi, Visiting Ihwajang Where the Breath of Nation-Building Remains.
- Grace 은혜 Kim
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
The Ihwa-jang (梨花莊), located in Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, served as the office space where Syngman Rhee, the first President of the Republic of Korea, formed his initial cabinet. During the chaotic period following liberation when the national system had not yet been firmly established, this site was where the fundamental direction of the Republic of Korea as a liberal democratic republic was concretely shaped. For this reason, Ihwa-jang fully deserves to be called the “House of Founding.”
On the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement, members of the New Dongjihoi (新同志會), a supporting organization of the BEXUS Policy Research Institute, visited Ihwa-jang. This visit carried special significance. What struck everyone upon directly experiencing the space was one clear realization: the founding of the nation was not an abstract slogan, but the product of resolute decisions made in a specific time and place.
The March First Movement of 1919 was not merely a national uprising that cried out for independence; it was also a historic declaration of the principles of republican government. That spirit continued into the Provisional Government in Shanghai, and it was during this period that the national name “Republic of Korea” was formally proclaimed. Yet a declaration was only the beginning. Establishing a sovereign state complete with defined territory, a functioning government, and a citizenry was a task of an entirely different dimension.
Upon his return to Korea in October 1945, President Syngman Rhee stayed at Ihwajang and began shaping his vision for the nation’s political future. At the time, the Korean Peninsula was under divided occupation by United States and Soviet forces, and ideological confrontation between the left and the right had intensified sharply. The U.S.–Soviet Joint Commission was heading toward collapse, while in the North the establishment of a communist regime was already underway. In such circumstances, the question of what system the new nation would adopt was not merely a matter of political orientation, it was a matter of survival.
Rhee advocated holding a general election under the auspices of the United Nations. As a result, elections for the Constituent National Assembly were held on May 10, 1948. Conducted under international observation, this election secured the legitimacy of the establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea. On August 15 of that year, the Republic of Korea was formally inaugurated, and Rhee assumed office as its first president. It marked the beginning of a liberal democratic republic.
Within the grounds of Ihwajang stands a building known as “Jogakdang.” Shortly after the establishment of the government, it was here that the first Cabinet of the Republic of Korea was formed. The term jogak (組閣) literally means the organization of a cabinet. In this space, the appointments of the first Prime Minister and the ministers of each department were discussed and finalized, laying the foundational framework of the executive branch.
The present structure of the Republic of Korea’s executive government traces its origin to this very site. Core ministries responsible for the administration of the state finance, foreign affairs, national defense, and home affairs took shape here, and the constitutional structure of a responsible government began to operate in practice. The founding of the nation was not completed by declaration alone; it became reality through the concrete establishment of institutions and administrative systems such as these.
It was not within a splendid palace or a grand official residence, but within the private home of a national leader, that the framework of the state’s executive branch was prepared. This fact reveals much about the character of the founding of the Republic of Korea. Jogakdang at Ihwajang was not merely a symbol, it was the substantive starting point of national administration.
Upon entering the Jokgakdang (組閣堂), the first calligraphy that catches the eye is “一統北守” (Il-tong Buk-su), which translates to “Unify as one and defend the North” or “Achieve unification while guarding the North.”In the political and ideological context of Syngman Rhee, this phrase carries a clear message: first consolidate and unify the Republic of Korea centered on the South, and then steadfastly defend and protect the nation from the North (North Korea and communist forces).
On August 5, 1948, ten days before the formal establishment of the Government of the Republic of Korea, a commemorative photo of the inaugural Cabinet brought together the key figures of the founding executive branch.
At the center were President Syngman Rhee, Vice President Yi Si-young , and Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Lee Beom-seok, forming the core leadership of the new government. Seated in the front row were the ministers of each department: Jeon Jin-han (Social Affairs), Im Young-shin (Commerce and Industry), Ahn Ho-sang (Education), Yoon Chi-young (Interior), Kim Do-yeon (Finance), Cho Bong-am (Agriculture and Forestry), and Chang Taek-sang (Foreign Affairs), presenting the foundational structure of the executive branch. Notably, Minister Im Young-shin was the first female minister in the Republic of Korea, adding symbolic significance to the founding government.
In the back row were officials responsible for the practical operations and legal framework of the government: Yoon Seok-gu (Communications), Kim Dong-sung (Public Information), Min Hee-sik (Transportation), Yoo Jin-oh (Legislation), and Lee In (Justice). Yoo Jin-oh played a central role in drafting the Constituent Constitution, symbolizing that the government was established on the foundation of constitutional order. Cho Bong-am, as the first Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, laid the groundwork for land reform policies and set the direction for socioeconomic restructuring in the early years of the Republic.
This photograph, taken at Jogakdang in Ihwajang, stands as a symbolic record of the Republic of Korea’s founding, demonstrating that the Cabinet formed within Jogakdang was realized as an actual government organization, marking the launch of a free and democratic nation.
The Realization of Nation-Building and “New Mandate, Old Nation” (1945–1960)
After returning to Korea following liberation in 1945, Syngman Rhee was inaugurated as the first President of the Republic of Korea in 1948. In the Jokgakdang (組閣堂) of Ihwajang, where he formed the inaugural cabinet during the Constituent National Assembly, he hung his own calligraphy: 新命舊邦 (Shinmyeong-gubang), meaning “New Mandate, Old Nation.” This was his personal confession of faith—that God had bestowed a new mission (新命) upon the ancient nation and people (舊邦).
He transformed national ceremonies into Christian-style observances, introduced military chaplains (군목) to the armed forces and prison chaplains (형목) to correctional facilities, and actively appointed Christians to key government positions. During the Korean War (6·25 War), he received aid through Christian relief organizations and ensured distribution was channeled via the Korea National Council of Churches (KNCC). Throughout his presidency (1948–1960), 38% of high-ranking government officials and 21% of National Assembly members were Protestant Christians, and the Korean church experienced explosive numerical growth.
Resignation, Exile, and the Final Years (1960–1965)In 1960, following the April 19 Revolution, Syngman Rhee resigned from office. He briefly returned to Ihwajang before going into exile in Hawaii. Even during his years in exile, he read the Bible and prayed every day, never abandoning his lifelong dream of building the Republic of Korea as “a nation under God.” On July 19, 1965, shortly before his death in Hawaii, he confided to those around him, “I have lived my entire life by the grace of God.”
His funeral was held at the National Cemetery, and Ihwajang remains today as a space that commemorates his faith and the founding spirit of the nation.Syngman Rhee’s life is far more than the record of a politician. The encounter with Jesus that began with his desperate prayer on the brink of death in the Hanseong Prison transformed him into a man who carried the mission of 新命舊邦 throughout his lifetime. The divine mandate newly bestowed upon an ancient people—building a Republic of Korea grounded in freedom, equality, and Christian principles. That was the greatest legacy left by Woo-nam Syngman Rhee.
The main building (Anchae) of Ihwajang was the actual living space of President Syngman Rhee from 1947 onward, and it is the place that witnessed the formative period of Korea’s founding most closely. Rather than serving as an official meeting hall, this space functioned as a residence and reception area, a private setting where domestic and foreign visitors came for personal audiences and discussions.
If Jogakdang was the center of symbolic discussions related to the establishment of the government, the Anchae can be seen as the space that quietly bore the weight of all political tension and critical decisions in daily life. Its interior, featuring a fireplace and Western-style furniture within the traditional framework of a hanok, reflects the characteristics of a modernized space that combined Western living practices with Korean architectural tradition.
The Anchae was also the place where Rhee stayed until just before his resignation following the April 19 Revolution in 1960, and it was where he spent his final days in Korea before departing for Hawaii. Later, Mrs. Francesca Donner Rhee returned to this residence and spent the remainder of her life there.
The furnishings, documents, and photographs preserved in this space are not merely personal belongings they are traces where the private life of Korea’s first president intersected with the public era. Some of these artifacts are currently held temporarily at the Presidential Archives for preservation and restoration, and they are recognized as valuable resources that illuminate both the domestic life and political history of Korea’s early founding period.
The Anchae was not a space of ostentatious power, but a residence that quietly carried the weight of an era. While the founding of the nation was institutionalized in Jogakdang, the deliberations and reflections behind those decisions undoubtedly continued within the quiet rooms of the Anchae.
The white bench placed in the courtyard of Ihwajang is a wooden chair said to have been personally crafted by President Syngman Rhee. Its appearance is simple, yet it is considered a symbolic artifact that reflects his approach to life, as he personally shaped the wood and hammered the nails despite his presidential status.
Having spent much of his youth abroad and in exile, Rhee was accustomed to managing daily life on his own, as historical accounts attest. This chair is often cited as an example of his independent and pragmatic nature.
Moreover, the chair was more than a piece of furniture for rest it was part of a space where he would reflect or engage in conversation in the courtyard. It was used for casual talks with visitors and close aides, or simply for quietly contemplating the garden.
Its current white appearance is the result of preservation measures taken to prevent deterioration from long-term outdoor exposure. Originally, the natural texture of the wood was visible, but it has been painted to protect it from decay.
If the Anchae and Jogakdang were spaces of national decision-making, this modest chair represents the everyday humanity of the founding president. It is not a grand symbol of power, but a humble trace that reflects frugality and self-reliance, giving it even greater significance.
The Unification Prayer Hall (통일기원관) inside Ihwajang was originally a building used as quarters for security personnel. After Syngman Rhee’s resignation following the April 19 Revolution in 1960, when he left the Blue House (then known as Gyeongmudae) and resided at Ihwajang, this building served as the station for police security guards who were permanently assigned there.Later, when Ihwajang was renovated and transformed into a memorial museum, the building was renamed the Unification Prayer Hall. The name reflects the historical context of the era, when people earnestly prayed for unification amid the reality of national division.
A signboard erected outside the building symbolically conveys this meaning.In relation to this space, two of Syngman Rhee’s own calligraphic works are particularly notable: 敬天愛人 (Gyeongcheon Aein) and 一統北守 (Il-tong Buk-su).The calligraphy 敬天愛人 (“Revere Heaven, Love People”) means to respect Heaven and love humanity. It is interpreted as a value that combines Christian faith with traditional ethical principles.The phrase 一統北守 (“Unify as One and Guard the North”), written in Rhee’s own hand, encapsulates his later thought (mid-1950s to 1960). It carries the message that unification must be achieved, but in the present reality, the nation must first be firmly defended against threats from the North while preparing for national integration and unity.
President Syngman Rhee was not merely the first president of the Republic of Korea, but a leader who established the framework of a liberal democratic republic. Even amid the reality of national division, he chose liberal democracy over communism and secured the legitimacy of the nation within the international community.
Although the Republic of Korea later endured the severe trials of the Korean War, the direction of its political system was maintained. On the foundation of individual freedom, a market economy, and the rule of law, the country achieved industrialization and democratization. Today’s prosperity cannot be separated from the choices made regarding the political system at the nation’s founding.
107th Anniversary of the March 1st Movement: At Ihwajang, Our Shin Dongji Hoi Asks OurselvesOn this 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement, our Shin Dongji Hoi stood at Ihwajang and posed a question to ourselves.Just as the Declaration of Independence led to the establishment of a government, today’s Republic of Korea also faces new challenges. Amid shifts in the international order, heightened tensions in the security environment, confusion over values, and the erosion of sovereignty, this is the moment to reaffirm the nation’s identity and direction.Ihwajang bears silent witness: the Republic of Korea was not founded by chance. It was born through deliberate choice and resolute determination. And that choice was unmistakably toward freedom.In this place where the breath of nation-building still lingers, we ask ourselves once again:With what sense of responsibility and resolve will we write the next chapter of a free Republic of Korea?
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