The first President of South Korea was Syngman Rhee. He served as President from 1948 until 1960, when he was forced to resign following widespread protests against his authoritarian rule. Rhee was a prominent anti-Japanese activist and had played a key role in the Korean independence movement. After the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948, he was elected as the country's first President and oversaw the country's transition to democracy and economic development.