South Korean presidential election, March 1960
Encyclopedia
Presidential elections were held in South Korea
on 15 March 1960. After the death of his Democratic Party
opponent Cho Pyong-ok, Syngman Rhee
was left as the only candidate, and was re-elected unopposed. Voter turnout was 97.0%. With the lack of a meaningful contest in the presidential race, popular focus shifted to the vice-presidential contest where Rhee's Liberal Party
candidate Lee Ki-bung competed against Chang Myon
. The elections were heavily rigged in Lee's favor, and widespread allegations of corruption and manipulation of the results sparked protests which spiralled into the April Revolution
, causing the annulment of the election, the resignation and exile of Rhee, and the collapse of the First Republic
.
candidate, Chang Myon
, who had been elected in 1956. Official results after the election showed a large victory for the Liberal candidate, Lee Ki Poong, with a margin of almost 80% to Chang's 17.5%, entirely against popular expectations, and it was obvious that the results had been extensively manipulated: Han goes so far as to say that "the election results were completely fabricated by police headquarters and the ministry of internal affairs".
The Democratic Party rejected the result and on the same day, protests began in Masan
against the fabrication of the election results. The discovery of the mutilated body of a sixteen-year-old boy who had participated in these protests in early April caused a wave of further protest, and Rhee's obdurate attitude led to the intensification of unrest into the April Revolution
, though Rhee forced Lee to withdraw from active politics. The results of the elections were nullified after the Revolution's triumph later in the year, though Chang himself resigned on April 23.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on 15 March 1960. After the death of his Democratic Party
Democratic Party (South Korea)
The Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea.Formerly called the Millennium Democratic Party , or Saecheonnyeon Minju-dang , it changed its name to the present form on May 6, 2005.- History :...
opponent Cho Pyong-ok, Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
was left as the only candidate, and was re-elected unopposed. Voter turnout was 97.0%. With the lack of a meaningful contest in the presidential race, popular focus shifted to the vice-presidential contest where Rhee's Liberal Party
Liberal Party (South Korea)
The Liberal Party is a political party in South Korean established in 1951 by Syngman Rhee.As the 1952 Presidential Elections neared, Rhee made public his intention to organize a party during his August 15 Speech in 1951. Rhee called Yi Bum-seok, then the ambassador in China, and charged him with...
candidate Lee Ki-bung competed against Chang Myon
Chang Myon
Chang Myon , or John Myun Chang, was a South Korean politician and educator. He was the Vice President of the First Republic and the Prime Minister of the Second Republic...
. The elections were heavily rigged in Lee's favor, and widespread allegations of corruption and manipulation of the results sparked protests which spiralled into the April Revolution
April Revolution
The April Revolution, sometimes called the April 19 Revolution or April 19 Movement, was a popular uprising in April 1960, led by labor and student groups, which overthrew the autocratic First Republic of South Korea under Syngman Rhee. It led to the peaceful resignation of Rhee and the transition...
, causing the annulment of the election, the resignation and exile of Rhee, and the collapse of the First Republic
First Republic of South Korea
The First Republic of South Korea was South Korea's first independent government, ruling the country from 1948 to 1960. It succeeded USAMGIK, the United States military government, which ruled the area from 1945 to 1948. The First Republic was established on August 15, 1948, with Syngman Rhee as...
.
Results
Popular hopes of unseating Rhee were frustrated by the death of his opponent Cho Pyong-ok several weeks before the election, leaving Rhee to be elected without opposition.| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syngman Rhee Syngman Rhee Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...  |
Liberal Party Liberal Party (South Korea) The Liberal Party is a political party in South Korean established in 1951 by Syngman Rhee.As the 1952 Presidential Elections neared, Rhee made public his intention to organize a party during his August 15 Speech in 1951. Rhee called Yi Bum-seok, then the ambassador in China, and charged him with... |
9,633,376 | 100% |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,228,896 | ||
| Total | 10,862,272 | 100% | |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||
Vice-presidential elections
With no competition for Rhee in the presidential elections of 1960 after the death of his opponent, the simultaneous vice-presidential elections became the main focus of attention. Opposition to Rhee was concentrated around the incumbent Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (South Korea)
The Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea.Formerly called the Millennium Democratic Party , or Saecheonnyeon Minju-dang , it changed its name to the present form on May 6, 2005.- History :...
candidate, Chang Myon
Chang Myon
Chang Myon , or John Myun Chang, was a South Korean politician and educator. He was the Vice President of the First Republic and the Prime Minister of the Second Republic...
, who had been elected in 1956. Official results after the election showed a large victory for the Liberal candidate, Lee Ki Poong, with a margin of almost 80% to Chang's 17.5%, entirely against popular expectations, and it was obvious that the results had been extensively manipulated: Han goes so far as to say that "the election results were completely fabricated by police headquarters and the ministry of internal affairs".
The Democratic Party rejected the result and on the same day, protests began in Masan
Masan
Masan was a formerly a municipal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The city was situated on Masan Bay , approximately 35 km west of Busan. It was known for its textile industry, and it was the site of Hite Brewery's production facilities.During the control of the Mongolians, the...
against the fabrication of the election results. The discovery of the mutilated body of a sixteen-year-old boy who had participated in these protests in early April caused a wave of further protest, and Rhee's obdurate attitude led to the intensification of unrest into the April Revolution
April Revolution
The April Revolution, sometimes called the April 19 Revolution or April 19 Movement, was a popular uprising in April 1960, led by labor and student groups, which overthrew the autocratic First Republic of South Korea under Syngman Rhee. It led to the peaceful resignation of Rhee and the transition...
, though Rhee forced Lee to withdraw from active politics. The results of the elections were nullified after the Revolution's triumph later in the year, though Chang himself resigned on April 23.
Nominal results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Ki Poong |
Liberal Party Liberal Party (South Korea) The Liberal Party is a political party in South Korean established in 1951 by Syngman Rhee.As the 1952 Presidential Elections neared, Rhee made public his intention to organize a party during his August 15 Speech in 1951. Rhee called Yi Bum-seok, then the ambassador in China, and charged him with... |
8,337,059 | 79.2% |
| Chang Myon Chang Myon Chang Myon , or John Myun Chang, was a South Korean politician and educator. He was the Vice President of the First Republic and the Prime Minister of the Second Republic... |
Democratic Party Democratic Party (South Korea) The Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea.Formerly called the Millennium Democratic Party , or Saecheonnyeon Minju-dang , it changed its name to the present form on May 6, 2005.- History :... |
1,843,758 | 17.5% |
| Kim Jun-yeon | Unification Party | 249,095 | 2.4% |
| Im Yeong-shin | NARRKI | 97,533 | 0.9% |
| Total | 10,527,445 | 100% | |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||