Students participated in April 19 Revolution, April 19, 1960. Photo courtesy of Seoul National University.
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After the US Military Government returned control of the southern half of the Korean Peninsula in 1948, the South Korean Government was organized into the First Republic of Korea, with Syngman Rhee serving as its president. Rhee became more authoritarian and acted to solidify his power over his three terms as president. In April of 1960, the body of Kim Ju-yul, a high school student who was protesting Rhee’s unopposed election to a fourth term, was found. He was killed by a tear gas cannister fired by riot police, possibly intentionally. This caused national outrage and protests throughout April, with hundreds of thousands of high school and college students marching through the streets of major cities. On April 26, Rhee resigned ushering in the formation of the Second Republic of Korea.
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