Ambassador Yang Yoo-chan. Public Domain.

South Korean Ambassador's Bold Stance in 1951: A Glimpse into Yang Yoo-chan's Diplomatic Prowess 

In 1951, Yang Yoo-chan took the helm as the Ambassador to the United States. Before his appointment, Yang was a successful physician in Hawaii, managing a prominent hospital and employing two Chinese doctors. 

In February 1951, Consul General Kim Yong-sik from Honolulu visited Yang with a surprising message: President Syngman Rhee wished to meet him in Busan. During their encounter, President Rhee requested Yang to serve as the Ambassador to the U.S. 

Hesitant due to his flourishing medical business and lack of diplomatic experience, Yang initially declined. In a persuasive maneuver, President Rhee asked, "Is it better to leave a fortune for your descendants or to save our 30 million citizens?" President Rhee recalled his young days teaching Yang and expressed his long-held wish for Yang to serve the nation alongside him, particularly in its post-war recovery. ^{Source: Kyunghyang Shinmun, June 30, 1972}

Upon his appointment as Ambassador, Yang met with then-U.S. Treaty Negotiator, John Foster Dulles, in July 1951. One of his primary requests was to include South Korea in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, a post-war accord signed by 48 out of 51 countries, marking the end of the allied occupation in Japan and restoring Japan's sovereignty. This system was famously coined as the "San Francisco System". Despite the magnitude of this treaty, South Korea did not participate.

According to The Herald, an Ohio-based journal dated July 20, 1951, the U.S. perceived South Korea as lacking the credentials to be among the 51 nations. It was not considered a victor against Japan. In his discussions with Dulles, Ambassador Yang emphasized South Korea's unique stance, having resisted Japanese oppression longer than any other nation, referencing the 40-year Japanese occupation.

Besides seeking inclusion in the treaty, Yang presented additional demands: restraining Japan from fishing near Korean waters and asserting South Korea's claim over two islands near its eastern coast, Parangdo and Dokdo, previously under Japanese control. The Herald reported that while including South Korea in the treaty was challenging, these additional requests were considered reasonable.