After Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial era, the Korean War erupted amidst conflicts between left and right factions of the established leadership, leading to political disorder. As the country entered the late 1950s, discussions on university autonomy, intellectual engagement with political realities, and nationalism became more active, leading to growing student discontent with the political situation.
As a result, widespread student demonstrations erupted nationwide on March 15th, condemning the corruption of the Liberal Party regime and the rigged elections. These protests culminated on April 19th, leading to the fall of the authoritarian government that had ruled for 12 years, and ultimately evolved into a democratic movement. At the time of the April 19th Revolution, 185 people died, and countless others were injured.
The cemetery was constructed on September 20th, 1963, to honor the 273 people who died during the uprising. As part of the government's project to turn it into a sacred ground, the first expansion began in October 1983, enlarging the 43,000㎡ cemetery to 135,000㎡. The Cabinent meeting of April 18th, 1995 elevated the April 19th Cemetery into a national cemetery, and the cemetery is currently managed by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.