Song Yo-chan
Song Yo-chan | |
|---|---|
| 송요찬 宋堯讚 | |
Song Yo-chan in 1959 | |
| Acting Prime Minister of South Korea | |
| In office July 3, 1961 – June 16, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Chang Do-yong (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Park Chung Hee (acting) |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office July 22, 1961 – October 10, 1961 | |
| President | Yun Posun |
| Preceded by | Kim Hong-il |
| Succeeded by | Choe Deok-sin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 13, 1918 Cheongyang County, Chūseinan Province, Korea, Empire of Japan |
| Died | October 18, 1980 (aged 62) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Political party | None (military regime) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Kwon Young-gak |
| Children | 2 boys and 2 girls |
| Alma mater | George Washington University |
| Nickname(s) | "General Seokdu" "Tiger Song" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan South Korea |
| Branch/service | Imperial Japanese Army (1938–1945) Republic of Korea Army (1945–1961) |
| Years of service | 1938–1961 |
| Rank | Sergeant(Japan) Lieutenant General(South Korea) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 송요찬 |
| Hanja | 宋堯讚 |
| RR | Song Yochan |
| MR | Song Yoch'an |
Song Yo Chan (Korean: 송요찬; February 13, 1918 – October 18, 1980) was prime minister (Chief Cabinet Minister - Military Rule) of South Korea from 3 July 1961 to 16 June 1962. Previously, he had been the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 22 July 1961 – 10 October 1961 and was a lieutenant general. He ordered the arrest of corrupt officers in the army. He had studied politics and economics at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. During the final days of the First Republic of South Korea of president Syngman Rhee, he declared martial law and demanded the resignation of Rhee. Song Yo Chan refused to quell student-led protesters even though the police asked for bullets and troops. These protests are known as the April Revolution.