History of South Korea in Timeline

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South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, bordering North Korea at the Demilitarized Zone. It's surrounded by the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. South Korea asserts its claim as the sole legitimate government of the entire peninsula. With a population of 51.71 million, half reside in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, one of the world's largest. Major cities include Busan, Daegu, and Incheon.

1905: Korea Becomes a Protectorate of Japan

In 1905, Japan compelled Korea to become its protectorate.

1905: Introduction of baseball to Korea

In 1905, baseball was first introduced to Korea.

1905: Japan colonizes Liancourt Rocks

In 1905, the Liancourt Rocks were the first Korean territories to be forcibly colonized by Japan.

1910: Formal Annexation by Japan

In 1910, Japan formally annexed Korea, leading to a period of forced assimilation.

1910: Annexation into the Empire of Japan

In 1910, Korea was annexed into the Empire of Japan.

1919: March First Movement Protests

In 1919, the March First Movement protests occurred, leading to the foundation of resistance groups in exile.

1943: Cairo Declaration

Despite intentions to liberate a unified peninsula in the 1943 Cairo Declaration, Korea was divided in 1948.

1945: End of World War II and Korean independence

In 1945, World War II ended and Korea gained independence, but there were no formal diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan directly after independence.

1945: Liberation from the Empire of Japan

On August 15, 1945, Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan, a day celebrated as Liberation Day.

May 1948: Syngman Rhee Wins First Presidential Elections

In May 1948, Syngman Rhee won the first presidential elections of the newly declared Republic of Korea.

August 1948: Republic of Korea Established

In August 1948, after failed negotiations on reunification, the southern zone of Korea became the Republic of Korea.

1948: Division of Korea

In 1948, escalating tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States led to the division of Korea into two political entities: North Korea and South Korea.

1948: First promulgation of the constitution and first direct election

In 1948, the constitution was first promulgated at independence, and the first direct election was held.

June 25, 1950: North Korea Invades South Korea

On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, sparking the Korean War.

1950: North Korean Invasion Triggers Korean War

In 1950, a North Korean invasion triggered the Korean War, a major proxy conflict of the Cold War.

1950: Korean War begins

In 1950, the Korean War began, lasting until 1953.

1950: Onset of the Korean War and U.S. intervention

Upon the onset of the Korean War in 1950, U.S. forces were sent to defend South Korea against an invasion from North Korea.

1951: Liancourt Rocks returned to Korea

In 1951, the Liancourt Rocks were returned to Korea along with the rest of its territory with the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco.

1953: Korean War Stalemate

By 1953, the Korean War eventually reached a stalemate.

1953: Korean War Ends in Armistice

In 1953, the Korean War ended with an armistice but no peace treaty, leading to the ongoing Korean conflict.

1953: Korean Peninsula Split

The 1953 armistice split the Korean peninsula along the demilitarized zone, and no peace treaty was ever signed.

1955: Population in 1955

In 1955, South Korea's population was 21.5 million.

1960: April Revolution

In 1960, a student uprising (the "April Revolution") led to the resignation of President Syngman Rhee.

1960: Decline in Birth Rates Began in 1960

South Korea's population decline is attributed to a rapid decline in birth rates that began in 1960.

May 16, 1961: Coup Led by General Park Chung Hee

On May 16, 1961, a coup led by General Park Chung Hee broke the period of political instability in South Korea.

1962: EU as largest foreign investor

Since 1962, the European Union has been the single largest foreign investor in South Korea.

1965: Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea

In 1965, South Korea and Japan signed the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea to establish diplomatic ties.

1967: Hosted the Asian Basketball Championship

In 1967, Seoul hosted the Asian Basketball Championship.

1967: South Korea sent troops to Vietnam War

In 1967, South Korea sent a large combat troop contingent to support the United States in the Vietnam War.

1972: Park Extends Rule

In 1972, President Park Chung Hee extended his rule by creating a new constitution, which gave the president sweeping powers and unlimited six-year terms.

1979: Coup d'état of December Twelfth

In 1979, General Chun Doo-hwan led the coup d'état of December Twelfth.

1979: Park's Assassination

President Park Chung Hee's 17-year tenure ended with his assassination in 1979.

1980: Fastest Rise in Average GDP per Capita Begins in 1980

In 1980, South Korea began recording the fastest rise in average GDP per capita in the world, continuing until 1990.

1980: Martial Law Declaration

In 1980, martial law was declared for the first time since the 1980 military coup d'état after the assassination of dictator Park Chung Hee.

1982: Establishment of the Korea Professional Baseball league

In 1982, the Korea Professional Baseball league, a 10-team circuit, was established and at the Baseball Worldcup, Korea won the gold medal.

1986: Hosted the Asian Games

In 1986, South Korea hosted the Asian Games in Seoul.

1986: Qualified for every World Cup since Mexico 1986

Since Mexico 1986, The Korea Republic national team qualified for every World Cup.

1987: First Martial Law since democratization

In 1987, martial law was declared for the first time since democratization.

1987: June Democratic Struggle Ignites

In 1987, the June Democratic Struggle ignited across the country after the death of Park Jong-chul and the Democratic Justice Party announced the June 29 Declaration.

1987: June Democratic Struggle Ends Authoritarian Rule

The June Democratic Struggle of 1987 ended authoritarian rule in South Korea and led to the establishment of the current Sixth Republic.

1987: Constitution Established

Under the 1987 constitution, South Korea maintains a unitary presidential republic.

1988: Seoul Hosts Olympic Games

In 1988, Seoul hosted the Olympic Games, providing a boost for South Korea's global image and economy.

1988: Hosted the Summer Olympics

In 1988, South Korea hosted the Summer Olympics in Seoul, achieving fourth place with 12 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 11 bronze medals.

1990: Continued Rise in Average GDP per Capita until 1990

From 1980 to 1990, South Korea experienced the fastest rise in average GDP per capita globally.

1991: Membership in the United Nations

In 1991, South Korea became a member of the United Nations at the same time as North Korea.

1991: South Korea Invited to Join the United Nations

South Korea was formally invited to become a member of the United Nations in 1991.

August 24, 1992: Re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China

On August 24, 1992, South Korea and the People's Republic of China re-established formal diplomatic relations and lifted the forty-year-old trade embargo.

1992: Launch of First Satellites Since 1992

Since 1992, South Korea has launched 10 satellites using foreign rockets and overseas launch pads.

1993: North Korean missile test

In 1993, North Korea conducted a missile test.

1995: Hosted the Asian Basketball Championship

In 1995, Seoul hosted the Asian Basketball Championship.

1996: South Korea Joins OECD in 1996

In 1996, South Korea became a member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

1997: Impact of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis

Although severely harmed by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korea managed a rapid recovery and subsequently tripled its GDP.

1997: Hosted the Winter Universiade

In 1997, South Korea hosted the Winter Universiade.

1997: Asian Financial Crisis

The transition of Korea from autocracy to modern democracy was marked against the backdrop of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

February 25, 1998: Kim Dae-jung Inaugurated

On February 25, 1998, Kim Dae-jung was sworn in as the eighth president of South Korea.

1998: North Korean missile test

In 1998, North Korea conducted a missile test.

1999: Launch of Arirang-1 in 1999

In 1999, Arirang-1 was launched as part of South Korea's space partnership with Russia. The satellite was lost in space in 2008.

1999: Hosted the Asian Winter Games

In 1999, South Korea hosted the Asian Winter Games.

1999: Success of the film Shiri

In 1999, the film Shiri achieved significant success, marking the beginning of substantial growth and recognition for the Korean film industry both nationally and internationally.

June 2000: North-South Summit in Pyongyang

In June 2000, a North–South summit took place in Pyongyang as part of President Kim Dae-jung's "Sunshine Policy".

2000: Taekwondo becomes an official Olympic sport

In 2000, taekwondo became an official Olympic sport after modern rules were standardized in the 1950s and 1960s.

2001: Chinese Investment in South Korea in 2001

Among East Asian countries, China was the most receptive, investing $1.4 billion in South Korea, with much of the investment within its service sector, a sevenfold increase from 2001.

2001: Troop Deployment to the Middle East in 2001

Beginning in 2001, South Korea deployed 24,000 troops in the Middle East region to support the war on terror.

2002: FIFA World Cup

In 2002, South Korea and Japan jointly co-hosted the FIFA World Cup.

2002: Significant Economic Growth in 2002

In 2002, South Korea experienced significant economic growth, with a rate of 7.2%.

2002: Hosted the Asian Games

In 2002, South Korea hosted the Asian Games in Busan.

2003: EU trade growth with South Korea

Between 2003 and 2013, EU trade with South Korea enjoyed an annual average growth rate of 9.8%.

2003: Hosted the Summer Universiade

In 2003, South Korea hosted the Summer Universiade.

2003: Inclusion of Robotics in National Research and Development Projects Since 2003

Since 2003, robotics has been included in the list of main national research and development projects.

2004: Troop Dispatch to Iraq in 2004

In 2004, South Korea dispatched 3,300 troops of the Zaytun Division to assist with rebuilding efforts in northern Iraq, becoming the third-largest contributor to the coalition forces after the U.S. and Britain.

2004: Korean Robot Game Festival Since 2004

The Korean Robot Game Festival has been held every year since 2004 to promote science and robot technology.

2005: Development of HUBO in 2005

In 2005, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed the world's second walking humanoid robot, HUBO.

2005: Cloning of Snuppy in 2005

In 2005, South Korea successfully cloned a dog, named Snuppy.

May 2006: Development of First Korean Android in May 2006

In May 2006, a team in the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology developed the first Korean android, EveR-1.

2006: Launch of Arirang-2 in 2006

In 2006, Arirang-2 was launched as part of South Korea's space partnership with Russia.

2006: North Korean missile test

In 2006, North Korea conducted a missile test.

2006: South Korea designated as priority FTA partner by the EU

In 2006, South Korea was designated as a priority FTA partner by the European Union, leading to many years of negotiations.

2006: EU investment in South Korea

In 2006, the European Union accounted for almost 45% of all FDI inflows into South Korea.

2006: Finished third in the World Baseball Classic

In 2006, the South Korea national baseball team finished third in the World Baseball Classic.

January 1, 2007: Ban Ki-moon became UN Secretary-General

On January 1, 2007, Ban Ki-moon, former South Korean Foreign Minister, became the UN Secretary-General.

October 4, 2007: Agreement on peace and cooperation between North and South Korea

On October 4, 2007, Roh Moo-Hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il signed an eight-point agreement on issues of permanent peace, high-level talks, economic cooperation, renewal of train services, highway and air travel, and a joint Olympic cheering squad.

2007: Conservative Government Elected

In 2007, a conservative government was elected, led by President Lee Myung-bak.

2007: Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement signed

In 2007, the Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement was signed between South Korea and the United States, but its formal implementation was delayed.

2007: Cloning of Gray Wolves in 2007

In 2007, the Seoul National University cloned two females of an endangered species of gray wolves.

2007: South Korea Avoids Recession During 2007-08 Global Financial Crisis

South Korea was one of the few developed countries that was able to avoid a recession during the global financial crisis of 2007–08.

April 2008: First Korean in Space in April 2008

In April 2008, Yi So-yeon became the first Korean to fly in space, aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-12.

2008: Won the gold medal in baseball at the Summer Olympics

In 2008, South Korea won the gold medal in baseball at the Summer Olympics.

2008: Economic Growth Rate in 2008 During the Great Recession

In 2008, during the Great Recession, South Korea's economic growth rate was 2.3%.

June 2009: Completion of Naro Space Center in June 2009

In June 2009, the first spaceport of South Korea, Naro Space Center, was completed at Goheung, South Jeolla Province.

November 2009: South Korea joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee

In November 2009, South Korea joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee as a donor member.

2009: North Korean missile test and heightened tensions

In 2009, North Korea conducted a missile test. By early 2009, relationships between North and South Korea were very tense.

2009: Suspension of summit talks between South Korea and Japan

In 2009, President Roh Moo-hyun suspended all summit talks between South Korea and Japan in response to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.

2009: Low Unemployment Rate in 2009

In 2009, South Korea maintained a low unemployment rate of 3.6% during the Great Recession, with an economic growth rate of 0.2%.

2009: World's Lowest Birth Rate in 2009

In 2009, South Korea's birth rate became the world's lowest, at an annual rate of approximately 9 births per 1000 people.

2009: Finished second in the World Baseball Classic

In 2009, the South Korea national baseball team finished second in the World Baseball Classic, with the final game against Japan being widely watched in Korea.

2009: Government Plans for Robot-Themed Parks in 2009

In 2009, the South Korean government announced plans to build robot-themed parks in Incheon and Masan with a mix of public and private funding.

2009: Cyberattack Incident in 2009

The South Korean government blamed North Korea for cyberattack incidents that occurred in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

February 2010: Announcement of English-Teaching Robot Assistants in February 2010

In February 2010, plans to create English-teaching robot assistants to compensate for the shortage of teachers were announced, with the robots being deployed to most preschools and kindergartens by 2013.

March 2010: Anyang Halla won their first ever Asia League Ice Hockey title

In March 2010, Anyang Halla won their first ever Asia League Ice Hockey title.

March 2010: ROKS Cheonan Sinking

In March 2010, the South Korean warship ROKS Cheonan was sunk, allegedly by a North Korean submarine.

September 2010: Approval of the free trade agreement with the EU

In September 2010, the free trade agreement between the EU and South Korea was approved.

November 2010: South Korea hosted the G-20 Summit in Seoul

In November 2010, South Korea hosted the G-20 Summit in Seoul, and concluded a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

November 2010: Attack on Yeonpyeongdo

In November 2010, Yeonpyeongdo was attacked by a significant North Korean artillery barrage.

2010: South Korea's Nuclear Reactor Export Agreements in 2010

As of 2010, South Korea was in negotiations with Turkey regarding the construction of two nuclear reactors and preparing to bid on the construction of a light-water nuclear reactor for Argentina. South Korea has agreements with the United Arab Emirates to build and maintain four advanced nuclear reactors, and with Jordan for a research nuclear reactor.

2010: South Korea's Nuclear Power Production in 2010

As of 2010, South Korea was the world's fifth-largest nuclear power producer and the third-largest in Asia, supplying 45% of its electricity production.

2010: Hosted a Formula One race

In 2010, South Korea hosted its first Formula One race at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam. Seoul also hosted a professional triathlon race, which is part of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship Series in 2010.

2010: South Korea's Military Spending in 2010

In 2010, South Korea spent ₩1.68 trillion in a cost-sharing agreement with the U.S. to provide budgetary support to the U.S. forces in Korea, in addition to the ₩29.6 trillion budget for its own military.

2010: Economic Growth Rate in 2010

In 2010, South Korea's economic growth rate reached 6.2%, marking the fastest growth in eight years since 2002.

2010: World Cup Round of 16

In 2010, The Korea Republic national team was defeated by eventual semi-finalist Uruguay in the Round of 16 in the World Cup.

2010: Won the gold medal at the Asian Games

In 2010, the Korean National Baseball team won the gold medal at the Asian Games.

2010: Population Reaches 50 Million by 2010

South Korea's population more than doubled from 21.5 million in 1955 to 50 million by 2010.

July 1, 2011: Free trade agreement with the EU took effect

On July 1, 2011, the free trade agreement between the EU and South Korea took effect.

October 12, 2011: U.S. Congress passed trade agreement with South Korea

On October 12, 2011, the U.S. Congress passed the long-stalled trade agreement with South Korea.

2011: Hosted the IAAF World Championships in Athletics

In 2011, the South Korean city of Daegu hosted the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

2011: Cyberattack Incident in 2011

The South Korean government blamed North Korea for cyberattack incidents that occurred in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

March 15, 2012: Implementation of the Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement

On March 15, 2012, the Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement went into effect.

2012: Gangnam Style tops global music charts

In 2012, Psy's song "Gangnam Style" became an international music sensation, topping global music charts.

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2012: First Female President Elected

In 2012, South Korea saw another milestone with the first ever female President Park Geun-hye elected and assuming office.

2012: Won the bronze medal for football at the Summer Olympics

In 2012, South Korea won the bronze medal for football at the Summer Olympics.

2012: Renewable portfolio standard program and micro combined heat and power units installed

In 2012, the renewable portfolio standard program with renewable energy certificates was active, running until 2022. Also in 2012, around 350 residential micro combined heat and power units were installed.

2012: Cyberattack Incident in 2012

The South Korean government blamed North Korea for cyberattack incidents that occurred in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

January 2013: Successful Launch of Naro-1 in January 2013

In January 2013, the launch of Naro-1 was successful, after two previous failed attempts.

2013: EU trade growth with South Korea

Between 2003 and 2013, EU trade with South Korea enjoyed an annual average growth rate of 9.8%.

2013: Deployment of English-Teaching Robot Assistants by 2013

By 2013, English-teaching robot assistants were planned to be deployed to most preschools and kindergartens, following the announcement in February 2010.

2013: Cybersecurity Training Commitment in 2013

Following cyberattacks in the first half of 2013, the South Korean national government committed to the training of 5,000 new cybersecurity experts by 2017.

2013: North Korean missile test

In 2013, North Korea conducted a missile test.

2013: R&D Spending in 2013

In 2013, South Korea's total spending for research and development was about 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP).

2013: Last Korean Grand Prix

The Korean Grand Prix was held from 2010 to 2013.

2014: Innovation Ranking in 2014

From 2014 to 2019, South Korea ranked first among the most innovative countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.

2014: Hosted the Asian Games

In 2014, South Korea hosted the Asian Games in Incheon.

2014: Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Australia

In 2014, South Korea signed Free Trade Agreements with Canada and Australia.

2014: South Korea's Ranking in International Trade in 2014

In 2014, South Korea was the fifth-largest exporter and seventh-largest importer in the world, highlighting its heavy dependence on international trade.

2015: EU trade with South Korea exceeded €90 billion

In 2015, EU trade with South Korea exceeded €90 billion.

2015: Hosted the Summer Universiade

In 2015, South Korea hosted the Summer Universiade.

2015: Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand

In 2015, South Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand.

November 2016: Public Demonstrations

From November 2016, a series of massive public demonstrations followed the accusation of President Park Geun-hye's administration of corruption, bribery, and influence-peddling.

2016: South Korea's trade with China

In 2016, 26% of South Korean exports, worth $124 billion, were sent to China, with an additional $32 billion worth of exports to Hong Kong. Also, $93 billion of Chinese imports went to South Korea, making it China's fourth largest trading partner.

2016: End of Ban Ki-moon's term as UN Secretary-General

In 2016, Ban Ki-moon's term as UN Secretary-General ended after serving from 2007.

2016: Passenger Traffic at Incheon International Airport in 2016

In 2016, Incheon International Airport served 58 million passengers, making it the main gateway and largest airport in South Korea. Korean Air also served over 26 million passengers, including almost 19 million international passengers in 2016.

2016: Trade relationship with the U.S.

In 2016, the U.S. was South Korea's second largest trading partner, receiving $66 billion in exports.

May 10, 2017: Moon Jae-in Assumes Office

After the fallout of Park's impeachment and dismissal, Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party won the presidency, assuming office on May 10, 2017.

2017: Cybersecurity Experts Training Target in 2017

By 2017, the South Korean national government aimed to have trained 5,000 new cybersecurity experts following cyberattacks.

2017: South Korea's carbon emissions

In 2017, South Korea was the world's seventh largest emitter of carbon emissions and the fifth largest emitter per capita.

2017: New Global Low in Fertility Rate in 2017

South Korea's fertility rate dropped to a new global low in 2017, with fewer than 30,000 births per month for the first time since records began.

February 9, 2018: Summit between the nations' leaders during the Korean held Winter Olympics

On February 9, 2018, a summit between the leaders of South Korea and Japan was held during the Korean held Winter Olympics.

April 2018: Park Geun-hye Sentenced to Jail

In April 2018, Park Geun-hye was sentenced to 24 years in jail because of abuse of power and corruption.

June 28, 2018: Constitutional Court Ruling on Conscientious Objection

On June 28, 2018, the South Korean Constitutional Court ruled the Military Service Act unconstitutional and ordered the government to accommodate civilian forms of military service for conscientious objectors.

November 1, 2018: Legalization of Conscientious Objection by Supreme Court

On November 1, 2018, the South Korean Supreme Court legalized conscientious objection as a basis for rejecting compulsory military service.

2018: As of May 2018

As of May 2018, description of something.

2018: Pyeongchang hosted the Winter Olympics

In 2018, Pyeongchang hosted the Winter Olympics.

2018: Less Than One Child per Woman in 2018

In 2018, South Korea recorded less than one child per woman.

2019: Innovation Ranking in 2019

From 2014 to 2019, South Korea ranked first among the most innovative countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.

2019: Parasite wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards

In 2019, Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, became the highest-grossing film in South Korea and the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, South Korea had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.02/10, ranking it 87th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Foreign Tourist Visits in 2019

In 2019, more than 17 million foreign tourists visited South Korea. The Hyundai Research Institute reported that the Korean Wave has a direct influence on encouraging direct foreign investment back into the country through demand for products, and the tourism industry.

2020: South Korea asked IOC to ban the Japanese Rising Sun Flag from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo

In 2020, South Korea asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban the Japanese Rising Sun Flag from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

2020: Population Decline

In 2020, South Korea recorded more deaths than births, resulting in a population decline for the first time on record.

2020: First Population Decrease in 2020

In 2020, South Korea recorded more deaths than births, resulting in the first population decrease since modern records began.

2020: SK Bioscience Produces Vaxzevria Vaccine Since 2020

Since late 2020, SK Bioscience Inc. has been producing a major proportion of the Vaxzevria vaccine (also known as COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) under license from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca.

October 21, 2021: Successful Launch of KSLV-2 Nuri in October 2021

On October 21, 2021, the KSLV-2 Nuri was successfully launched, and South Korea became a country with its own space projectile technology.

2021: Release of Squid Game

In 2021, the survival drama Squid Game, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, was released and received critical acclaim and widespread international attention, becoming Netflix's most-watched series at launch with over 142 million households viewing it in its first four weeks.

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March 2022: Yoon Suk Yeol Wins Election

In March 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol, the candidate of conservative opposition People Power Party, won a close election.

May 10, 2022: Yoon Suk Yeol Sworn In

Yoon Suk Yeol was sworn in on May 10, 2022.

2022: SK Bioscience Expands Vaccine Production in 2022

In 2022, SK Bioscience expanded its vaccine production for a second vaccine to 40 million doses, with a $450 million investment in domestic and overseas facilities.

2022: South Korea's Population in 2022

In 2022, South Korea had an estimated population of roughly 51.7 million.

2022: R&D Spending in 2022

In 2022, South Korea's total spending for research and development grew to more than 4.9% of gross domestic product (GDP).

2022: Democracy Index Classification

In 2022, The Economist Democracy Index classifies South Korea as a "full democracy", ranking at 24th out of 167 countries.

2022: Broke out of the group stage

In 2022, The Korea Republic national team broke out of the group stage in the World Cup.

2022: ROK Armed Forces Personnel Strength

In 2022, the ROK Armed Forces had a reported personnel strength of 3,600,000 (500,000 active and 3,100,000 reserve).

2022: End of renewable portfolio standard program

In 2022, the renewable portfolio standard program with renewable energy certificates ended after running from 2012.

October 2023: Bilateral trade agreement with Britain

In October 2023, South Korea and Britain agreed to extend a period of low or zero tariffs on bilateral trade of products with parts from the European Union.

2023: V-Dem Democracy indices

As of 2023, according to the V-Dem Democracy indices South Korea is the 3rd most electoral democratic country in Asia.

2023: Government Announcement of Spending Cut in 2023

In 2023, the South Korean government announced a spending cut by about 11% for 2024 and the intention to shift resources to new initiatives.

May 2024: New ministry created to reverse low birth rate

In May 2024, South Korea declared its low birth rate a 'national emergency' and created a new ministry dedicated to reversing the trend and addressing issues related to aging, immigration, and the workforce.

November 2024: Births show highest growth rate since November 2010

In November 2024, South Korea experienced a 14.6% year-on-year increase in births, marking the highest growth rate since November 2010.

December 3, 2024: Yoon Declares Martial Law

On December 3, 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, accusing the opposition of being pro-North Korean.

December 14, 2024: Yoon's Impeachment

On December 14, 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol's actions resulted in his impeachment.

2024: South Korea has 24 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages

As of 2024, South Korea has 24 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking in 2024

In 2024, South Korea was ranked 6th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Life expectancy reaches 83.53 years

In 2024, South Korea's life expectancy reached 83.53 years, ranking fifth highest globally.

2024: R&D Spending Cut in 2024

In 2024, the South Korean government implemented a spending cut of about 11% for research and development.

2024: Expected Peak Population in 2024

The population of South Korea is expected to peak at 52 million in 2024.

January 2025: Births in November 2024 show increase

Data released in January 2025 showed that the number of births in November 2024 was 20,095, a 14.6% increase year-on-year. This was the highest growth rate since November 2010 and the third consecutive month of double-digit growth.

2050: President Moon Jae-in's pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

In 2050, President Moon Jae-in pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero.

2072: Projected Population Decline by 2072

South Korea's population is expected to decline to 36 million by 2072, owing to a rapid decline in birth rates.