나무를 심는데 가장 좋았던 때는 20년 전이었다 두 번째로 좋은 때는 지금이다

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Yongsan-Dong, Seoul, September 2nd, 1951

Across from the military headquarters, the banner went up early on the 2nd of September.

Election Date: October 1st, the First Day of Democracy in Seoul

It was a proud, but effective message. Whatever legitimacy the Republic of Korea had was gone with the sword, even as the wrecks of RoK half-tracks still smouldered on the outskirts of the city. The Ministry of the Interior had been very clear: as soon as Seoul was in the control of the People's Army, the time was upon them to call for elections throughout all of the DPRK's territory south of the 38th Parallel. Similar pronouncements were being made in Gangneung, Chuncheon, Incheon and Ongjin.

Candidates were immediately called up and volunteered, many from the ranks of the still-banned Korean Worker's Party in the south. Significant numbers were emptied our of Rhee's jails, though he had failed to fully persecute the KWP and much of its members flocked to the new government. The 52 Seoul Patriots quickly achieved celebrity status - 52 members of the RoK government, left in Seoul after the RoKA's cowardly retreat, who switched sides when given the opportunity. This effectively showed the popularity of the Korean Worker's Party program throughout the south, and became a much-promoted event in the weeks-old war.

Nevertheless, the specter of the National Defense Corps, left behind by the retreating southern army in the hopes of demoralizing and confusing the rear lines of the Korean People's Army, meant that security had to be tight. Troops patrolled the street and monitored the polling locations, as well as actively searching for civilian radios and weapon caches. Recovered (or, in reality, concocted) lists of NDC recruits, members of the Liberal Party, strong Rhee or Republican supporters were kept, and these individuals were kept away from the polling stations.

The Sun Shines in Korea played in every Seoul cinema (when My Home Village wasn't playing) as people-watchers monitored the reaction of the local citizenry. Those found scoffing the film were watched and followed closely. Martial Law, first declared by Syngman Rhee, continued in the newest province of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. A strict curfew was enforced.

"Despite the hardships, you see how democracy flourishes," Pak Il-u said in a speech broadcast by the powerful array of radio transmitters in the north. Korean Central Broadcasting Station carried the message: "Democracy is the cause and goal of the defense of our sovereignty currently undertaken. No more can the South wait for democracy: even as our bayonet-point defends it, we will conduct elections."

To be continued...