Reel

Rioters Triumph: Rhee Government Falls; Vice President Dead

Rioters Triumph: Rhee Government Falls; Vice President Dead
Clip: 499333_1_1
Year Shot: 1960 (Actual Year)
Audio: Yes
Video: B/W
Tape Master: 1671
Original Film: 033-035
HD: N/A
Location: Korea
Timecode: 00:13:25 - 00:14:55

Rhee Government Falls; Vice President Dead. The climatic moments in Korea's revolution by riot. Unarmed throngs rage through the streets in the last of the protest against election irregularities before Syngman Rhee bowed to the will of his people and outside pressures by resigning. A mob stormed the house of Vice President elect Lee Kee Fung, Rhee's long time associate who allegedly rigged elections sparked the student riotous fury. Rhee had already resigned when the mob attacked. They blamed Rhee for the police crack-down where a 150 demonstrators where shot and killed. Revenge is the cry and the house is sacked and burned. Only an American flag being spared by the rioters. Lee Kee Fung's house and reputation lay in ruin. The next day in a murder suicide pact, his sons shown with him in better days, pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Lee. Lee's wife, Lee's other son and himself. The after note of Korea's un-armed revolution. Folks rise to put an end to political mellow drama and street clashes, with the appointment of Foreign Minister Fue Chung as acting President. Huge crowds of young people (mostly men, a few women) stand near a barricade, behind which armed soldiers stand. Young people ride atop a tank into the crowd. Night, unruly mob shakes fists in the air, seems to be surrounding a building. Day, smoldering ruins and rubble. Flashback (?): group of photographers take pictures of family (?), posing; this seems to be the vice president and his family, according to the VO. Korean men in business suits (political leaders?) walk around.