66th Anniversary of the March 15th Uprising Commemorative Ceremony ... Over 700 Honor Democratic Spirits
by Lee Seryeong
Published 16 Mar.2026 08:30(KST)
The 66th Anniversary of the March 15th Uprising commemorative ceremony was held at the National March 15th Democratic Cemetery in Masanhoewon District, Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province.
This year’s ceremony, held under the theme “Brilliant Today, an Unending Story,” was attended by President Lee Jaemyung and his wife, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oeul, Governor of Gyeongnam Province Park Wansoo, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education Park Jonghoon, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City Jang Geumyong, Chairman of the March 15th Uprising Memorial Foundation Park Hongki, as well as over 700 citizens, students, honorees of the March 15th Uprising, and their families.
The ceremony proceeded in the following order: paying respects, opening performance, national ceremony, commemorative performance, commemorative address, and singing of the March 15th Uprising song.
The 66th anniversary ceremony of the March 15 Uprising was held at the National March 15 Democratic Cemetery in Masanhoewon District, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do. Photo by the Korea Photojournalists Association Joint Photo Coverage Team
View original imagePresident Lee stated, “On this day 66 years ago in Masan, the history of popular sovereignty began. I would like to express my deep respect and gratitude to the honorees of the March 15th Uprising who never retreated in the face of hardship and threats.”
He continued, “As the President representing the Republic of Korea, I offer my heartfelt apology and condolences to the bereaved families of the March 15th Uprising victims who suffered greatly due to the abuses of state power,” and bowed deeply.
He also said, “The freedom, democracy, and prosperity we enjoy today are the result of the people’s indomitable will and sacrifice. I will do my utmost to ensure that these precious values are passed on to the next generation.”
Governor Park emphasized the significance of the event by saying, “We must honor the democratic spirits who sacrificed their lives during the March 15th Uprising and continue to uphold the spirit of freedom, democracy, and justice embodied in the March 15th Movement.”
President Lee Jae-myung and his spouse (far right), Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do (second from left), and Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Education of Gyeongsangnam-do (far left), are paying tribute to the victims at the 66th anniversary of the March 15th Movement commemorative ceremony. Photo by the Korea Photojournalists Association Joint Coverage Team
View original imageThe March 15th Uprising refers to the large-scale protest in which citizens and students of Masan rose up against election fraud on March 15, 1960. It is regarded as the nation’s first bloody pro-democracy movement.
Soon after the uprising, martyr Kim Juyeol, who had gone missing, was found dead in the waters off Masan on April 11 of the same year, with a tear gas canister shot by police lodged in his eye. This discovery sparked protests nationwide and served as the catalyst for the April 19th Revolution.
Gyeongnam Province holds commemorative memorial services and national essay contests every year in cooperation with related organizations to honor the March 15th Uprising. This year as well, on March 14, the day before the main ceremony, a memorial service organized by the March 15th Uprising Victims’ Families Association and the March 15th Uprising Memorial Foundation was held at the National March 15th Democratic Cemetery.
On that day, Vice Governor of Gyeongnam Province Park Ilwoong, Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency Commissioner Park Jongcheol, representatives from democratic movement organizations, honorees of the March 15th Uprising, and bereaved families offered tea and incense in remembrance of the democratic spirits.