Contemporary
Republic of Korea's era — overcoming liberation, division and war to achieve democratization and economic growth.
- 1945년
Liberation & division
With liberation came division: the US and the USSR occupied the peninsula along the 38th parallel.
Key developments 5 - 1948년
Republic of Korea founded
The Republic of Korea was established in the south (Syngman Rhee as the first president).
Key developments 4 - 1948년
Jeju April 3rd Incident
Amid conflicts over opposition to a separate southern election and the establishment of a unified government, uprisings and suppression operations on Jeju Island resulted in the deaths of countless civilians. It remains one of the most tragic events in modern Korean history.
Key developments 4 - 1948년
Yeosu–Suncheon Uprising
Soldiers who refused deployment to suppress the Jeju 4·3 uprising revolted around Yeosu and Suncheon; many civilians died during the crackdown, which later led to the enactment of the National Security Act.
Key developments 3 - 1949년
Reforms and the Killing of Kim Gu
The Special Committee to investigate anti-national collaborators worked but was thwarted, a land reform law was prepared, and Kim Gu, chairman of the Provisional Government, was assassinated.
Related figures: Kim GuKey developments 3 - 1950년
Korean War
The North's invasion of the South left the entire nation deeply scarred (Incheon landing).
Key developments 6 - 1953년
Armistice
The war halted along the armistice line, cementing the division.
Key developments 3 - 1960년
April Revolution
A citizen-student revolution against rigged elections brought down the Syngman Rhee regime.
Key developments 5 - 1961년
May 16 Military Coup
Park Chung-hee and the military staged a coup, seizing power and laying the groundwork for a long-term authoritarian regime through a period of military rule.
Related figures: Park Chung-heeKey developments 3 - 1964년
June 3 Resistance
Students and citizens staged mass protests against the Korea-Japan normalization talks seen as humiliating, and the government suppressed them with martial law.
Key developments 3 - 1965년
Korea-Japan Treaty and Deployment to Vietnam
The Korea-Japan Agreement normalizing diplomatic relations was concluded, and around the same time Korean military deployment to Vietnam began in earnest. While the agreement secured funds for economic development, it also triggered fierce opposition movements.
Key developments 3 - 1970년
Jeon Tae-il's Self-Immolation and Launch of the Saemaul Movement
Worker Jeon Tae-il set himself on fire demanding compliance with the Labor Standards Act, igniting the labor movement; in the same year, the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) was launched to modernize rural Korea.
Related figures: Jeon Taeil, Park Chung-heeKey developments 3 - 1972년
July 4th North-South Joint Communiqué
The first joint communiqué since the division, in which the two Koreas agreed on the principles of self-determination, peace, and national unity, opened the first chapter of inter-Korean dialogue.
Related figures: Park Chung-heeKey developments 3 - 1972년
October Yusin (Revitalization) Decree
The Park Chung-hee government enacted the Yusin Constitution, greatly expanding presidential powers and entrenching a system of prolonged one-man rule.
Related figures: Park Chung-heeKey developments 4 - 1977년
10 Billion Dollar Exports
Government-led development and heavy-chemical industrialization achieved 10 billion dollars in exports, symbolizing rapid growth while leaving behind labor problems and a widening wealth gap.
Key developments 3 - 1979년
October 26 Incident and the December 12 Military Mutiny
The assassination of Park Chung-hee brought down the Yusin system, but Chun Doo-hwan and the new military clique seized power through the December 12 Military Mutiny.
Related figures: Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwanKey developments 3 - 1980년
Gwangju Uprising
Citizens of Gwangju rose up against military dictatorship, demanding democracy.
Key developments 4 - 1987년
June Democratic Struggle
A nationwide citizen uprising won direct presidential elections — a watershed of democratization.
Key developments 6 - 1988년
Seoul Olympics
The successful Seoul Olympics introduced the Republic of Korea to the world.
Key developments 3 - 1991년
Adoption of the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement
South and North Korea agreed to mutual recognition of each other's systems and pledged reconciliation and non-aggression in this document, which became an important milestone in inter-Korean relations.
Key developments 3 - 1993년
Civilian Government Reforms
After some thirty years, a civilian government led by a non-military president took office, abruptly introducing the real-name financial system and rooting out private cliques within the military.
Key developments 3 - 1997년
IMF Financial Crisis
Depletion of foreign currency reserves forced Korea to seek an IMF bailout, resulting in massive restructuring and unemployment; a national gold-collection campaign was launched in response.
Key developments 4 - 1998년
Overcoming the Financial Crisis
A government formed through the first peaceful transfer of power between rival parties overcame the foreign-exchange crisis, aided by a nationwide gold-collecting campaign, and pursued the Sunshine Policy of reconciliation with the North.
Key developments 3 - 2000년
June 15th North-South Summit
President Kim Dae-jung visited Pyongyang and held the first inter-Korean summit since the division, issuing the June 15th Joint Declaration and opening the way for reconciliation and cooperation.
Related figures: Kim Dae-jungKey developments 4 - 2002년
Korea-Japan World Cup and the Semifinal Miracle
At the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, the South Korean team advanced to the semifinals. The massive street cheering of the Red Devils swept the entire nation, becoming a cherished national memory.
Key developments 3 - 2016~2017년
Candlelight Rallies and Presidential Impeachment
Massive candlelight rallies protesting the abuse of presidential power swept the country. In 2017, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of the president. It stands as a landmark example of peaceful civic action changing the course of politics.
Key developments 4 - 2018년
PyeongChang Olympics and Panmunjom
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics reopened inter-Korean dialogue, leading to an inter-Korean summit and the Panmunjom Declaration, and to the first-ever North Korea-U.S. summit.
Key developments 3 - 2020년
COVID-19 and Global K-Culture
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea's disease-control response drew attention, while the film Parasite's Oscar win and BTS and K-dramas spread Korean pop culture worldwide.
Key developments 3