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Person1896 – 1988

Heo Jeong

Politician who led the caretaker government after Syngman Rhee resigned in the April Revolution, overseeing the parliamentary-system amendment and the 29 July election

After liberation he helped found the Korea Democratic Party and under Syngman Rhee served as Minister of Transportation, acting prime minister and Mayor of Seoul. Appointed foreign minister just before Rhee resigned in April 1960, he served as acting president at the head of the caretaker government. Under it the June amendment created a parliamentary, bicameral system (the third amendment), and the 29 July election brought in the Chang Myon cabinet.

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2 related events

  1. 1
    1960April Revolutionrelated figure

    Protests by students and citizens against the rigged election of 15 March 1960 peaked on 19 April and brought down the Syngman Rhee government.

  2. 2
    1960 – 1961Chang Myon Cabinetrelated figure

    After the April Revolution the constitution was changed to a parliamentary, bicameral system, and Chang Myon of the victorious Democratic Party became prime minister.

People who appear alongside

  • Syngman Rhee1875 – 1965

    First President of the Provisional Government, who worked through diplomacy in the US; later first President of the Republic of Korea

  • Kim Ju-yeol1944 – 1960

    Student who disappeared after the Masan protest of 15 March 1960 and was found dead in Masan harbour; his death spread the protests nationwide into the April Revolution

  • Lee Ki-poong1896 – 1960

    Second man of the Liberal Party regime and Speaker of the National Assembly, declared vice president in the rigged election of 15 March 1960; he and his family died after the April Revolution

  • Chang Myon1899 – 1966

    Elected vice president in 1956; prime minister under the parliamentary system after the April Revolution (1960–1961)

  • Yun Po-sun1897 – 1990

    4th President (1960–1962), elected by the National Assembly under the parliamentary system after the April Revolution; resigned after the May 16 coup

Themes this person appears in

  • Changing Unification Policies1948 – 2018

    From “march north” to the Panmunjom Declaration — inter-Korean relations from confrontation to dialogue, through joint statements and agreements to summits (up to 2018)

  • Seoul18 BC – 1988

    From Hanseong Baekje to the June Democratic Struggle — the Han River land every kingdom fought for, and Joseon’s capital for five centuries