Lee commemorates 1960 uprising, draws parallels with 2024 martial law crisis

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Lee commemorates 1960 uprising, draws parallels with 2024 martial law crisis

Published: 19 Apr. 2026, 14:09 Updated: 19 Apr. 2026, 16:58

MICHAEL LEE
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

President Lee Jae Myung, left, burns incense at the April 19th National Cemetery in Seoul on April 19 on the 66th anniversary of the 1960 pro-democracy uprising by students that toppled then-President Syngman Rhee. First lady Kim Hea Kyung stands behind Lee. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee Jae Myung credited Korea’s ability to overcome his predecessor’s brief imposition of martial law to the 1960 pro-democracy movement in a speech to mark the 66th anniversary of the nationwide protests on Sunday.

Lee drew a parallel between the uprising on April 19, 1960, which toppled then-President Syngman Rhee, and the public response to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s December 2024 declaration of emergency martial law, saying the “resounding cries” of the people in both events brought down an “arrogant and unjust regime.”

“It was the spirit of the April 19 uprising — which ended the ruthless dictatorship — that enabled Korea to overcome the insurrection plot of that cold night in December 2024,” Lee said at the April 19th National Cemetery in northern Seoul, where the remains of those killed in the uprising rest.

About 1,000 people, including first lady Kim Hea Kyung, democracy activists, families of the dead and government officials, attended Sunday’s ceremony.

Held under the theme “Small lights come together to form a path,” the event framed individual acts of resistance as the basis for broader national unity.

The April 19 protests, which toppled Rhee’s authoritarian government, are widely considered a foundational moment in Korea’s democratic history.

The uprising was sparked by public anger over rigged elections under Rhee's government.

Nationwide student protests built up over weeks before culminating on April 19, when clashes with armed police left hundreds of demonstrators dead or wounded.

The uprising ultimately forced Rhee to step down after 12 years in power.

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the 66th anniversary of the 1960 pro-democracy uprising by students at the April 19th National Cemetery in Seoul on April 19. [BLUE HOUSE]

Lee characterized the protests as the first in a series of major acts of resistance by Koreans against authoritarianism, including the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the June 1987 protests.

He argued that this trajectory underpinned Korea’s rise into a top 10 global economy and a major cultural force.

“On the foundation of the democratic ideals of April 19, Korea achieved remarkable growth and prosperity,” Lee said before adding that the country’s liberal democratic order had helped unlock individual potential and turn crises into opportunities.

At the same time, Lee warned that democracy remains vulnerable, particularly as the country’s socioeconomic gaps widen.

“The boots of dictatorship burrow into the cracks of inequality and poverty and justify the destruction of democracy,” he said, underscoring his view that politics must remain focused on improving people’s livelihoods.

President Lee Jae Myung, left, shakes hands with students after a ceremony to mark the 66th anniversary of the 1960 pro-democracy uprising at the April 19th National Cemetery in Seoul on April 19. [BLUE HOUSE]

Lee urged the National Assembly to uphold that responsibility, saying democracy must continuously prove itself as “the most useful and rational system” for safeguarding dignity and enabling citizens to pursue their own aspirations.

He warned that “antidemocratic forces” could otherwise threaten basic freedoms.

The president further pledged expanded recognition and support for democracy activists, including stronger medical assistance for older adults who were active members of the April 19 movement and efforts to identify and honor additional contributors, 70 of whom received official recognition this year.

The ceremony featured a joint choir performance of the national anthem and wreath-laying by students from schools that participated in the 1960 protests.

Lee departed shortly after the ceremony for a six-day state visit to India and Vietnam, where he is scheduled to hold summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHO MUN-GYU, YOON SUNG-MIN, MICHAEL LEE [[email protected]]