Revival of Yu Gwan-sun after Korea's Liberation

Yu Gwan-sun's death for country was not open to the public until Korea's liberation. It was through an article tided “The Virgin of the Sunguk(殉國)” written by Park Gye-joo on Feb. 28, 1947. Since then, 'the Yu Gwan-sun Commemorarion Association' has been formed to launch a massive campaign to commemorate her patriotism. From the end of 1940s to the 1950s, textbook contains details of her death, which helped inspire patriotism among young and secondary school students. Yu became more widely known through 'the March 1 Independence Movement Day', which was designated as a celebratory day in 1946. Yu Gwan-sun's song was also made and published in music textbooks, and it was sung by the public. The 1950s were when corruption was severe in the Syngman Rhee regime. There was a strong unfair eleaion campaign ahead of the presidential and vice presidential eleaions on March 15, 1960. High school students who witnessed this direaly or indirealy were indignant. Since the end of February, high school student protests in Daegu and Daejeon have taken place before university student protests. The high school student protests without voting rights were surprising. This may have been influenced by the perception that student also should give up his life when the country is in crisis through education about Yu's patriotism. In the 1950s, high school students who cultivated Yu's love for the country through elementary and middle schools participated in protests against illegal elections. The demonstration of high school students became a catalyst for the April 19 Revolution. “Korea has a great revolutionary tradition of 10 generations, including Yu Gwan-sun, in terms of political transformation.” A chairman of Democratic Party policy committee wrote in a UPI article 10 days after the April 19 Revolution.