해방 직후 서울 주재 소련 총영사관 처리를 둘러싼 법적 쟁점

Soviet Union’s Consulate General in Seoul was found itself in a very unique legal situation with no international precedents after the surrender of Japan. Russian legation was originally opened in Seoul with the establishment of diplomatic relation between Chosun and Russia in 1885, but Chosun became a Japanese colony in 1910. Diplomatic relation between Japan and Russia was temporarily severed due to the Communist Revolution in Russia, and then Soviet Union’s Consulate General in Seoul resumed its activities in 1925. While Japan-Soviet diplomatic relation was again severed due to the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan, Korean Peninsula was liberated after the War. The U.S. military government stationed in South Korea initially acquiesced Soviet Consulate’s legal status, privileges and immunities, but was uncomfortable with the fact that Soviet Consulate supported communist activities secretly in South Korea. The U.S. military government proposed the opening of a U.S. Consulate in Pyongyang as a condition for continuing operation of Soviet Union’s Consulate in Seoul. Soviet Union rejected this request and eventually withdrew her Consulate in Seoul. When South Korean Government was established in 1948, only Russian custodians kept Soviet Union’s Consulate. Soon they were expelled for violating national security laws. This article analyzes international legal issues raised in this process.