Seoul: In a significant move in 1986, the South Korean government announced its plans to construct a "Peace Dam" on the upper stretches of the Han River, a major waterway flowing through Seoul. This strategic decision was driven by reports suggesting that North Korea intended to build a "Mount Kumgang" dam upstream, posing a potential threat of a "flood" offensive by the North. The military-backed government at the time claimed that the Northern dam was designed as a weapon to inundate the densely populated capital and its surrounding regions. The Peace Dam, completed several years later, was deliberately kept empty to manage any floodwaters potentially released by the North.According to Yonhap News Agency, in 1995, the administration of President Kim Young-sam decided to reopen investigations into notable historical incidents. These included the Dec. 12 incident, where Chun Doo-hwan, then an Army general, conducted an internal coup to seize power in 1979. Additionally, the government aimed to reinvestigate the May 18 civil uprising in Gwangju in 1980, which saw citizens revolting against Chun's regime, ultimately leading to a violent crackdown and hundreds of deaths.In 2004, the International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board chose not to escalate South Korea's undeclared nuclear experiments to the U.N. Security Council. Instead, the board issued a "chairman's statement" expressing concern over Seoul's failure to report these activities. South Korea had acknowledged in September of that year that its scientists had secretly extracted and enriched plutonium and uranium, essential components for nuclear weapons, in 1982 and 2000.Further notable events include the state funeral of former President Kim Young-sam in 2015, as he was laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery. Additionally, in 2018, South and North Korea jointly succeeded in adding traditional wrestling, known as "ssireum," to the UNESCO heritage list, marking a collaborative cultural achievement.
- October 12, 2026
