Cho Pong-am, a socialist who ran for the presidency in 1952 and 1956, and who did extremely well in 1956, was executed for violating the National Security Law.
Syngman Rhee, running for his fourth term, was reelected president. He ran unopposed, largely because the main opposition candidate, Cho Pyng-ok, died just prior to the election. Chang Myn resigned in protest at the corruption used by the Liberal Party in the elections.
Police and troops fired on some 30,000 demonstrators—initially students and later other citizens—protesting the rigged elections; 127 were reported killed and about 1,000 wounded. This became known as the April Revolution. Syngman Rhee resigned as president on April 26. The reins of government fell to H Chng, who moved to lift many of Rhee's repressive measures, rewrite the constitution (promulgated on June 15), and establish a parliament with two houses.
Parliamentary elections gave the Democratic Party a clear victory. The National Assembly elected Yun Po-sn (b. 1897) president and approved his appointment of Chang Myn as premier.
ng-ok, died just prior to the election. Chang My
