As protests against Korea–Japan normalization talks intensified, the government declared martial law on June 3. With National Assembly approval, the first troops were dispatched to Vietnam, and late in the year exports reached $100 million for the first time. “Camellia Lady” and “Barefoot Youth” were huge hits.
The year in Korea
Jun 3As protests against the Korea–Japan talks peaked, the government declared martial law to suppress them (the June 3 Movement). [Source]
Jul 31The National Assembly approved the dispatch of troops to Vietnam—the first approval of an overseas deployment in South Korean history. [Source]
Aug 14The KCIA announced the so-called People's Revolutionary Party case (first incident) and said it had arrested those involved. [Source]
Sep 11A mobile surgical hospital and a taekwondo instructor team departed from Busan, beginning Korea's deployment to Vietnam. [Source]
Nov 30South Korea's exports reached $100 million for the first time; the date was later marked as Export Day. [Source]
Oct 10The 18th Summer Olympics opened in Tokyo, Japan. [Source]
Songs, shows & trends
Music
Lee Mi-ja – “Camellia Lady” — The theme song of the film of the same name was a record-breaking hit, but it was later banned for years after being criticized as Japanese-style. [Source]
Shin Joong-hyun forms Add 4 — Korea's first rock band released its debut album, “Woman in the Rain.” [Source]
Film
Film “Barefoot Youth” — Director Kim Ki-duk's youth film about the love between a street tough and a diplomat's daughter. [Source]
Film “The Red Scarf” — Shin Sang-ok's war film about Air Force pilots in the Korean War. [Source]
TV & broadcasting
TBC television launches — The private broadcaster began television broadcasts in Seoul on December 7. [Source]
Year League: the best year
Sources
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1960s · Revolution and the Start of Industrialization
