4.19 Revolution Spark: 고려대생 Demonstration Attack and 4.19 Sites within Seongbuk-gu

Seongbuk-gu and Seongbuk Cultural Center Release Post Commemorating the 61st Anniversary of the April 19 Revolution Highlighting Local Democratization History... Incident of Students Participating in Korea University Demonstration, the Direct Trigger of the April 19 Revolution... Martyr Jin Youngsuk of Hanseong Girls' Middle School, Killed by Police Gunfire at Mia Ridge While Joining the Demonstration... April Poet Shin Dongyeop (1930?1969) Witnessed the Revolution While Moving Between His Home in Dongseon-dong, Seongbuk-gu, and Downtown

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) and Seongbuk Cultural Center (Director Cho Tae-kwon) have released a post to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the April 19 Revolution, highlighting the region's democratization history.

Seongbuk-gu and Seongbuk Cultural Center have been building an archive of local historical and cultural resources, and every Friday they publish a post titled "Geumdokki (Seongbuk Stories Returning Every Friday)" introducing timely stories and records related to Seongbuk-gu.

On the 16th, they posted a special commemorative article marking the 61st anniversary of the April 19 Revolution.

Seongbuk-gu was the site of a historic event that ignited the April 19 Revolution. On April 18, 1960, about 3,000 Korea University students were attacked by political thugs while returning from a sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly building, which directly triggered the revolution.

On April 19, Jin Young-sook, a second-year student at Hanseong Girls' Middle School in Samseon-dong at the time, participated in the demonstration. While riding a bus with the protestors over Mia-ri Hill, she was shot by police and lost her life. Jin Young-sook was the only martyr among those who died who left a farewell letter, which is included in school textbooks.

Shin Dong-yeop (1930?1969), the poet of April known for works such as "Shells Go Away," "April is the Month to Overturn," and the epic poem "Geumgang," observed the revolution while going back and forth between his home in Dongseon-dong, Seongbuk-gu, and downtown.

Cho Tae-kwon, Director of Seongbuk Cultural Center, commented, "Seongbuk-gu includes key locations of the April 19 Revolution such as in front of Seongbuk Police Station, Mia-ri Hill, Donam-dong area, and Jeongneung-dong area. I hope more people will take an interest in the April 19 Revolution, Seongbuk-gu, and also in what is currently happening in Myanmar."

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, "The April 19 Revolution holds a very important place in the history of democracy in our country, but its value has not been fully recognized. Seongbuk-gu has a deep connection with April 19, and Korea University located here continues its significance annually through the April 18 Marathon event. I hope this post will encourage more people to take an interest in the April 19 Revolution and Seongbuk-gu, which is the background of this history."

The April 19 Revolution posts by Seongbuk-gu are available through various SNS channels operated by Seongbuk-gu and Seongbuk Cultural Center. Various story contents and records related to the April 19 Revolution in Seongbuk-gu can be found on the Seongbuk Village Archive website.