Seoul: Chun Doo-hwan, a former Army general, was elected as South Korea's 12th president by an electoral college that he had personally selected. Chun rose to power following a military coup in December 1979, succeeding Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated by his intelligence chief. Chun's presidency spanned from 1981 to 1988.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Roh Tae-woo, another key figure in the military coup, took office as the 13th president in 1988. Roh's inauguration marked the continuation of leadership by those involved in the coup after Park Chung-hee's assassination by Kim Jae-kyu, his top intelligence official.
The political landscape shifted in 1993 when Kim Young-sam, a longstanding opposition leader, became South Korea's 14th president. Kim's presidency was significant as he was the first civilian leader in over three decades. In 1998, Kim Dae-jung, known for his pro-democracy activism, was inaugurated as the 15th president. His efforts in promoting democracy and reconciling with North Korea earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.
Roh Moo-hyun, a human rights lawyer-turned-politician, assumed the presidency as South Korea's 16th leader in 2003. The following year, the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program commenced in Beijing, with North Korea agreeing to denuclearize in exchange for assistance from its negotiation partners, which included South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, and Russia.
In 2008, Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated as president following a decisive victory in the December 2007 presidential election. In 2013, Park Geun-hye made history as South Korea's first female president, following in the footsteps of her father, former President Park Chung-hee.
Inter-Korean family reunions concluded in 2014 at North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort, with participation from 360 South Koreans and 88 North Koreans. The PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games ended in 2018 with a closing ceremony, where South Korea secured five gold, eight silver, and four bronze medals, ranking seventh overall.