May 10 General Election and the Constitution
Korea’s first election by universal suffrage formed the Constitutional Assembly, which drew up a constitution promulgated on 17 July.
U.S. Army · Public domain · Source
On 10 May 1948 a general election was held in the south under the observation of the UN Temporary Commission. It was the first democratic election with universal, equal, direct and secret voting for all men and women aged 21 and over. It chose 198 members for two-year terms (two Jeju seats were voided); the North–South negotiation group around Kim Gu and Kim Gyu-sik and the left took no part.
The Constitutional Assembly opened on 31 May, named the state the Republic of Korea, and promulgated the constitution on 17 July. It provided for separation of powers and a presidential system, with the president elected by the National Assembly for four years and one re-election, and a single-chamber assembly. On 20 July the Assembly elected Syngman Rhee president and Yi Si-yeong vice president.