8-2-2. 4‧18 시위 [명순구, "자유·정의·진리의 여정"/고려대학교와 민주화운동: 반독재운동의 선봉/II. 민주화 운동의 서막, 1960년 4월 18일]

Summary

The video explains how Korea University students’ April 18, 1960, protest became a key precursor to the April 19 Democratic Revolution.

Earlier student resistance

The video traces postwar student protests back to the 1956 presidential election. Korea University students organized to oppose election fraud, and a demonstration took place during the funeral procession for opposition candidate Shin Ik-hee after his death.

The crisis of 1960

Syngman Rhee’s victory in the March 15 election was widely condemned as fraudulent. Public anger intensified after the body of student Kim Ju-yeol was found with a tear-gas canister lodged in his head. News coverage of his death helped spur renewed protests in Masan and elsewhere.

Planning the Korea University demonstration

With police monitoring student activity and little prospect of support from other universities, five Korea University college representatives planned an independent protest. After surveillance compromised their initial plans, they postponed the action and set it for April 18.

The April 18 march

Student leaders informed university authorities of their decision. Lee Se-gi read a declaration drafted by Park Chan-se, a law student and editor of the Korea University Newspaper. Students marched from campus toward the National Assembly, carrying signs calling for freedom, justice, truth, and resistance to those undermining democracy.

Attack on students

As the marchers returned toward campus that evening, political thugs attacked Korea University students in a secluded alley. The narration characterizes the attack as involving police–gangster collusion and says the students’ route had been diverted. Photographs of the injured students appeared prominently in newspapers the next day, intensifying public outrage.

Connection to April 19

On April 19, Korea University students again gathered near the National Assembly, alongside students from other universities and large crowds of citizens. They demanded punishment for those responsible and continued protesting until the fraudulent election was annulled and a new election was held.

Outcome and legacy

On April 25, university professors joined the demonstrations with a declaration and placards supporting the students. Rhee announced his resignation on April 26. The video presents the April 18 protest as a fuse for the April 19 uprising and honors the students’ commitment to democracy.

Speakers and sources featured

• Narrator or lecturer: Provides the historical account; the subtitles do not identify the speaker by name.
• Busan Ilbo: Cited for publishing and distributing a photograph of Kim Ju-yeol’s body.
• Korea University Newspaper: Cited in connection with editor Park Chan-se, who drafted the April 18 declaration.
• April 18 Declaration: Read aloud by Lee Se-gi, chair of the College of Political Science and Economics.
• Photographs and a book of recollections: The narration refers to photographs of the events and memories recorded in a book, but the subtitles do not provide the book’s title.