April Revolution
In April 1960 student-led protests in South Korea forced the resignation of President Syngman Rhee after a fraudulent election.
Overview
Syngman Rhee had ruled South Korea since 1948 with growing authoritarianism. The rigged presidential election of March 1960 sparked protests, and in April the body of a student, Kim Ju-yul, was found in the harbor of Masan, killed by a police tear gas grenade. Massive demonstrations followed on 19 April, and police fired on crowds, killing many protesters. When university professors joined the marches and the army declined to suppress them, Rhee resigned on 26 April and went into exile in Hawaii. A short-lived parliamentary Second Republic followed, but it was overthrown by the military coup of Park Chung-hee in May 1961.
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