Korean political leader Syngman Rhee was imprisoned at age 22 for a period of seven years for protesting in favor of reform in Korea. Upon his release, he fled to the US.
In 1910, he returned to Korea to oppose the Japanese, and in 1919, led an unsuccessful revolt against Japanese rule. He fled once again to the US, where he led the Korean opposition until the end of World War II.
After the Japanese surrender, Rhee became President of Korea, and was re-elected four times. Shortly after his 1960 re-election, however, rising oppositon forced him to resign. He retired to Hawaii.
Kim, Q.Y. Fall of Syngman Rhee . 1983. University of California.
Oliver, Robert. Syngman Rhee : The Man Behind the Myth . 1973. Greenwood Pub. Group.