Yun Posun

In this Korean name, the family name is Yun.

His Excellency Yun Posun
윤보선 尹潽善
Official portrait, 1960
2nd President of South Korea
In office August 13, 1960 – March 24, 1962
Prime Minister	Ho Chong Chang Myon Chang Do-yong Song Yo-chan
Preceded by	Rhee Syngman
Succeeded by	Park Chung-hee
2nd Mayor of Seoul
In office December 15, 1948 – June 5, 1949
Preceded by	Kim Hyong-min
Succeeded by	Lee Ki-poong
Personal details
Born	(1897-08-26)August 26, 1897 Sinhang-ri, Dunpo-myeon, Asan County, South Chungcheong, Joseon (present day South Korea)
Died	Anguk-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Resting place	Yun Family Cemetery
Political party	Democratic (1955) → New Democratic (1967) (Liberalism in South Korea)
Spouse(s)	Lady Min (1910s–1937), Gong Deok-gwi (1948–1990)
Relations	Uncle: Yun Chi-sung
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Edinburgh (BA, MA)
Signature
Korean name
Hangul	윤보선
Hanja	尹潽善
Revised Romanization	Yun Boseon
McCune–Reischauer	Yun Posŏn
Pen name
Hangul	해위
Hanja	海葦
Revised Romanization	Haewi
McCune–Reischauer	Haewi
Courtesy name
Hangul	경천
Hanja	敬天
Revised Romanization	Gyeongcheon
McCune–Reischauer	Kyŏngch'ŏn

Yun Po-sun (Hangul: 윤보선; hanja: 尹潽善; Korean pronunciation: [junbosʌn] or [jun] [posʌn]; August 26, 1897 – July 18, 1990) was a South Korean politician and activist who served as the second president of South Korea from 1960 to 1962. He was the only president of the parliamentary Second Republic of Korea.

Having entered politics after World War II, Yun served as Secretary to Korea's Chief of Staff in 1947; and was Mayor of Seoul in 1948. He served as Commerce Minister for the newly liberated Korea from 1949 to 1950. In 1955, Yun helped establish the South Korean Democratic Party. He was forced to resign the presidency by Park Chung-hee as a result of the May 16 coup in 1961.

Early life

Yun Po-sun was born in Dunpo-myeon, Asan, South Chungcheong Province in 1897. He was a son of Yun Chi-so (윤치소, 尹致昭, 1871–1944) and Lady Yi Beom-suk (이범숙, 李範淑, 1876–1969). Yun Chiso is the second son of Yun Yeong-ryeol (윤영렬;尹英烈). Yun Yeong-ryeol is an 8th generation descendant of the prominent Joseon scholar-official Yun Doo-su (윤두수;尹斗壽). Yun studied in the United Kingdom, graduating with a Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh in 1930. He returned to Korea in 1932.

Political career

Yun entered politics in 1945 following Gwangbokjeol (Liberation Day). The first Doctor of Philosophy from Princeton University in Korea, as well as first President of South Korea, Dr. Syngman Rhee, was his mentor. By 1947, Yun was serving as Secretary to the Korean Chief of Staff. In 1948, Rhee appointed Yun to the position of mayor of Seoul. A year later, he was made Minister of Commerce and Industry. However, Yun soon began to disagree with Rhee's authoritarian policies.

While serving as president of the Red Cross Society, he was elected to the National Assembly in 1954. A year later, he co-founded the opposition South Korean Democratic Party. In 1959, he became a representative to the Supreme Council of the Democratic Party.

Presidency (1960-62)

Rhee's government was ousted by a student-led, pro-democracy uprising in 1960; and Yun was elected president by the newly elected parliament on August 13, with Chang Myon as Prime Minister. In response to the authoritarian excesses of Rhee's regime, South Korea had switched to a parliamentary system; thus, Yun actually served merely as a figurehead.

Following Park Chung Hee's coup in 1961, Yun stayed in his post in order to provide some legitimacy to the new regime, but resigned on March 22, 1962. In the following years, Yun received suspended sentences several times for anti-government activities. He opposed Park's authoritarian rule and ran for president twice, in 1963 and 1967, losing each time.

Yun retired from active politics in 1980 and focused his life on cultural activities until his death on July 18, 1990.

Awards

• Grand Order of Mugunghwa
• In-Cheon Cultural Award

See also

• Yun Chi-ho
• Yun Chi-Oh
• Yun Chi-Young
• Chang Myon
• Chang Chun-ha
• August 1960 South Korean presidential election
• 1963 South Korean presidential election
• 1967 South Korean presidential election

Further reading

• "Road of Thorns; The National Salvation"; autobiography; (구국의 가시밭길)》 (1967)
• "Select the Days of Lonely"; (외로운 선택의 나날들)》 (1991)

External links

• Official website
• Papyeong Yun clan website
• Yun Posun at Heonjeonghoe
• Yun Posun at Encyclopedia of Korean Culture

Political offices
Preceded by Heo Jeong (Acting)	President of South Korea 13 August 1960–22 March 1962	Succeeded by Park Chung-hee
Preceded by Kim Hyung-min	Mayor of Seoul City 1948–1949	Succeeded by Lee Ki-poong
Preceded by Lim Young-sin	Commerce Minister of South Korea 1949–1950	Succeeded by Kim Hoon