NIS 41B, South Korea, Country Profile/Chronology
Chronology (u/ou)
1910
August
- Korea is formally annexed by Japan, ending 500-year rule of Yi dynasty.
1943
December
- China, the United Kingdom, and the United States assert in Cairo that "in one due course Korea shall become free and independent."
1945
August
- U.S.S.R. enters war against Japan. Allies order Japanese in Korea to surrender to Soviet forces north of 38th parallel and to U.S. forces south of it.
December
- The United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., and the United States agree at Moscow on "reestablishment of Korea as an independent state" following a period of trusteeship by the United States, the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., and China; China subsequently concurs.
1946
March
- U.S.-Soviet Joint Commission is established to assist in forming a provisional Korean government; discussions lead to deadlock on major problems.
1948
May
- U.N.-supervised elections are held in South Korea but rejected by Communists in North Korea.
August
- Republic of Korea is established in the south, with Syngman Rhee (Yi Sung-man) as first President.
September
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea is established in the north, with Kim Il-song as Premier.
December
- U.N. General Assembly declares the Republic of Korea the legitimate government in South Korea.
- Soviet Troops are evacuated from North Korea.
1949
June
- All U.S. troops are withdrawn from South Korea except for a small military training mission.
1950
June
- North Korean forces invade South Korea.
October
- U.N. forces cross 38th parallel in pursuit of North Korean forces; Chinese Communist forces intervene.
1953
July
- Armistice agreement between U.N. Command and North Korean-Chinese Communist side signed at P'anmunjom.
October
- United States-Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is signed.
1954
April-May
- "Geneva principles," as a basis for settlement of overall Korean question, formulated at Geneva Conference of Korea.
1955
May
- Rhee reelected President for third term, but opposition leader Chang Myon (John M. Chang) defeats Rhee's running mate for vice presidency.
1968
March
- President Rhee and Liberal Party gain sweeping victory by rigging elections.
April
- Student demonstrations in Seoul against election rigging lead to violence and declaration of martial law; Rhee resigns and Foreign MInister Ho Chong becomes acting president.
June
- National Assembly passes constitutional amendment adopting parliamentary form of government.
August
- Yun Po-son becomes President and Chang Myon becomes Prime Minister of Second Republic, following Democratic Party victory in general elections.
1961
May
- Military junta led by Maj. Gen. Pak Chong-hui and Col. Kim Chong-p'il seizes government in bloodless coup.
June
Supreme Council for National Reconstruction assumes all executive and legislative power. 1962
December
- Major constitutional changes ratified in national referendum.
1963
October
- General Pak wins narrow victory over former President Yun Po-son in presidential elections.
December
- General Pak inaugurated as President of Third Republic.
1965
January
- National Assembly votes to send noncombat troops to South Vietnam.
August
- National Assembly approves dispatch of first combat troops to South Vietnam.
August-December
- South Korea-Japan normalization accords ratified and instruments of ratification exchanged.
1966
March
- National Assembly approves dispatch of additional combat troops to South Vietnam.
1967
February
- Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement enters into force.
May
- Pak Chong-hui is reelected for a second term as President.
1968
January
- 31-man North Korean commando squad tries to seize Blue House (presidential mansion) in Seoul.
1969
October
- Constitutional change to permit presidential third term ratified in national referendum.
1971
April
- Pak Chong-hui wins third term in close election by defeating Kim Tae-chung of the New Democratic Party.
August
- Seoul proposes talks between North and South Korean Red Cross societies for purpose of reuniting families separated by the Korean war.
1971
September
- Informal talks between Red Cross societies start.
December
- President Pak declares state of national emergency to tighten controls on the population in conjunction with the North-South talks.
1972
August
- Formal Red Cross talks between North and South Korea begin.
October
- President Pak declares martial law and abrogates constitution preparatory to making major government changes.
November
- Constitution rewritten to give the President sweeping new powers.
December
- Pak Chong-hui elected to extended 6-year term.
1973
March
Withdrawal of South Korean forces from South Vietnam completed.