Public sentiment continued to worsen as a result of a series of irrational moves made by the Syngman Rhee government, including an amendment that exempted the first president of an eight-year term limit, the execution of Jo Bong-am, the head of the opposition party, and the discontinuance of the Kyunghyang Shinmun, an opposition-leaning newspaper. The rigged presidential election of March 15, 1960 ultimately brought about the fall of the Rhee government. On the day of the election, protests against the irregularities of the election burst out in the city of Masan. Demonstrating students and citizens clashed with the police, and the protest turned deadly.

On April 11, the body of Kim Ju-yul, a high school student who died after being hit in the eye with a tear bomb during the March protest, was found floating in the sea near Masan, leading to public outcry. Enraged students led the protests, with students from Korea University reciting the rally declaration that called for the people to “raise a torch of rebellion to achieve the true ideal of democracy.”