Presidential and vice presidential elections were held in South Korea on 5 August 1952.^[1] The result was a victory for Syngman Rhee, who won 74.6% of the vote. Voter turnout was 88.1%.^[2] The election was held during the Korean War, which played an important role in consolidating Rhee's support.

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1952 South Korean elections

5 August 1952

Presidential election

← 1948 1956 →

Candidate Syngman Rhee Cho Bong-am Yi Si-yeong Party Liberal Independent Democratic Nationalist Popular vote 5,238,769 797,504 764,715 Percentage 74.62% 11.36% 10.89%

President before election Syngman Rhee Liberal Elected President Syngman Rhee Liberal

Vice Presidential election

← 1951 1956 →

Candidate Ham Tae-young Lee Beom-seok Chough Pyung-ok Party Independent Liberal Democratic Nationalist Popular vote 2,943,813 1,815,692 575,260 Percentage 41.27% 25.45% 8.06%   Liberal KSDP Candidate Lee Gap-sung Yi Yun-yong Party Liberal Social Democratic Popular vote 500,972 458,583 Percentage 7.02% 6.43%

Vice President before election Kim Seong-su Liberal Elected Vice President Ham Tae-young Independent

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President Rhee's factions took a devastating blow in the 1950 legislative election, when they won a little more than a quarter of the seats in the National Assembly, combined. In belief he would have little shot at reelection in the opposition-controlled legislature, President Rhee decided to amend the constitution so that the president would be elected by the people, instead of the legislature. President Rhee had the amendment pass in July 1952, after using police and military to threaten lawmakers.^[3]