April Revolution Timeline
Category: Other
Updated: 14 Dec 2018
Contributors
Created byChanghwi An
Attachments
Events
National Liberation Day of KoreaKorean War OutbreakSyngman Rhee Became a PresidentAmerica's approval rating decreasedKorean War CeasefirePresident Rhee had been in office, but faced
increasing domestic discontent as his rule had
delivered limited economic and social
development, while being perceived as corrupt
with Rhee amending the constitution to prolong
his stay in power.The U.S. had reduced its economic aid from a
high of $382,893,000 in 1957 to $222,204,000 in
1959.Rhee forced through the National Assembly an
amendment to the National Security Law giving
the government broad new powers to curtail
freedom of the press and prevent members of
the opposition from voting to ensure Rhee's
political survivalMasan ProtestsFor the election of the vice president, which was
done separately in Korea, Rhee was determined
to see his protege, Kipoong Lee, elected. Lee
ran against Myon Chang of the Democratic
Party, who was the former ambassador to the
United States during the Korean War. On March
15 Lee, who was mostly bedridden, won the
elections with an abnormally wide margin,
winning 8,225,000 votes, while Myon received
just 1,850,000 votesA protest against electoral corruption took place
in Masan. The protest, sparked by Democratic
Party members' exposure of electoral
corruption, led to about a thousand residents of
Masan gathering in front of the Democratic
Party Headquarters in Masan around 7:30 in the
evening.Fraudulent ElectionTaking increasingly desperate measuresDeath of Juyul KimJuyul Kim had been a student at Masan
Commercial High School who had disappeared
during the Masan rioting of March 15. His body
was found in the harbor at Masan by a
fisherman. Kim Kim's skull had been split by a
20 centimeter-long tear-gas grenade which had
penetrated from Kim's eyes to the back of his
head. Though Rhee’s regime tried to censor
news of this incident, the story was reported by
the Korean press along with a picture of Kim
when his body was first found and delivered to
the world.April RevolutionStudents from Korea University
launched a non-violent protest at the National
Assembly against police violence and
demanding new elections; however, they were
attacked by gangs funded by Rhee's supporters
as they returned to their campus.Thousands of students marched from Korea
University to the Blue House, as they marched
past other high schools and universities, their
numbers grew to over 100,000. Arriving at the
Blue House, the protesters called for Rhee's
resignation. Police opened fire on protestors
killing approximately 180 and wounding
thousands. That day the Rhee government
proclaimed martial law in order to suppress the
demonstrations.Professors joined students and citizens in large-
scale protests outnumbering soldiers and police
who refused to attack the protestors.Resignation of Syngman RheePresident Rhee stepped down from power.
Kipoong Lee, Rhee's handpicked running mate
for the vice presidency, was blamed for most of
the corruption in the government.KiPoong Lee and his entire family were
murdered by Lee's oldest son, who then
committed suicide.Minister of Interior Inkyu Choi and the Chief of
Security resigned taking responsibility for the
Masan incident.AftermathAfter the resignation of Rhee and the death of
Kipoong Lee, the rule of the Liberal Party
government came to an end. South Korea
adopted a parliamentary system to remove
power from the office of the president and so
while Boseon Yun was elected President, real
power was vested in the prime minister, Myon
Chang.Following months of political instability, General
Chunghee Park launched a coup d'état
overthrowing the short-lived Second Republic of
South Korea and replacing it with a military
junta and later the autocratic Third Republic of
South Korea.Coup D'etat
Comments