Seoul: Korean independence fighters based in Hawaii, led by Park Yong-man, established a military band named the Great Joseon People's Army. This move marked a significant effort in the struggle for Korean independence during the early 20th century.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in 1926, residents of Seoul staged street marches against the Japanese colonial regime. These demonstrations coincided with the state funeral of Sunjong, the last emperor of the Joseon Dynasty, reflecting the growing discontent against colonial rule. In 1952, the United Nations Command quelled a revolt by prisoners of war at a POW camp on Geoje Island. This camp housed approximately 150,000 North Korean soldiers and 30,000 Chinese, who were eventually released in 1953 when the Korean War ended with an armistice.
The year 1962 saw the South Korean government implement its second currency reform, transitioning from the "hwan" to the "won" and devaluing the currency tenfold. In 1987, a massive pro-democracy movement erupted as students took to the streets against the military-backed government of Chun Doo-hwan, spurred by years of government crackdowns and the torture death of student protester Park Jong-chul.
In 1988, Pohang Iron and Steel, now known as POSCO, was listed on the Korea Stock Exchange, marking a milestone in South Korea's industrial development. A year later, the Ministry of Construction announced plans for residential development across 22 districts, covering a total area of 24 million square meters.
In 1993, North Korea test-fired a missile with a 1,000-km range in the East Sea, heightening regional tensions. The Naro-1, South Korea's first locally assembled space rocket, tragically exploded about two minutes into its flight in 2010, dealing a blow to the nation's space ambitions.
In 2016, South Korea and the United Nations Command conducted a military operation to crack down on illegal Chinese fishing boats in the neutral waters around the mouth of the Han River, marking a first in the estuary region. Two years later, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Singapore for a historic summit focused on Pyongyang's denuclearization.
The year 2019 brought the passing of Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, at the age of 96. She was a notable figure, serving as chair of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Center, which aimed to promote inter-Korean reconciliation and global peace. Most recently, in 2024, South Korea and the United States completed a review of a joint guideline document outlining responses to potential nuclear attacks by North Korea, underscoring ongoing efforts to bolster deterrence against Pyongyang's evolving nuclear threats.