Presidential elections were held in South Korea for the first time on 20 July 1948, following the Constitutional Assembly elections earlier that year. The elections were indirect, with the president elected by the Assembly. Syngman Rhee was elected with 180 votes out of 196, and was to oversee the transfer of power from the United States Army Military Government in Korea. An important role was played in the run-up to the election by the dispute between Rhee and Kim Koo over the issue of holding separate elections in the South. Kim rejected the notion of separate elections, and split from the National Alliance for the Rapid Realization of Korean Independence to form the Korea Independence Party. 13 members cast their votes for Kim. In the event, Kim's split allowed Rhee to consolidate power