Korea in the 1980s: Democratization and the Olympics

Following the 12 December military mutiny, the new military group seized power by extending martial law nationwide on 17 May 1980, and calls for democracy, including the Gwangju Democratization Movement, were put down by force. Demands for democracy continued under Chun Doo-hwan's Fifth Republic, and the June Democratic Struggle of 1987 led to the 29 June Declaration and a constitutional amendment restoring direct presidential elections. Seoul hosted the 24th Summer Olympics for 16 days from 17 September 1988.

Year by year

Korea in 1980

Calls for democracy grew after Park's assassination, but on May 17 martial law was extended nationwide, and the Gwangju Uprising (May 18 Democratic Movement) was put down by martial-law troops with heavy casualties. Chu…

• May 17On May 17, the new military leadership extended martial law nationwide and arrested leading politicians.
• May 18The Gwangju Uprising (May 18 Democratic Movement) erupted against the martial-law expansion and was crushed by troops, leaving many dead and wounded.
• Aug 4The Samcheong re-education camps were set up, forcibly detaining large numbers of people in the name of purging 'social evils.'

Korea in 1981

In February, Chun Doo-hwan was elected the 12th president through an electoral college, formally launching the Fifth Republic. Seoul was chosen to host the 1988 Summer Olympics in September and the 1986 Asian Games in N…

• FebChun Doo-hwan was elected the 12th president by an electoral college.
• Mar 25Elections for the 11th National Assembly, the Fifth Republic's first legislature, were held.
• May 28Gukpung 81, a massive five-day culture festival, was held on Yeouido in Seoul.

Korea in 1982

On January 5, the nighttime curfew in place since liberation was lifted; professional baseball launched in March, and middle and high school students were freed from strict haircut rules, bringing big changes to daily l…

• Jan 5The nighttime curfew in force since liberation was lifted nationwide.
• Mar 18University students in Busan set fire to the U.S. Cultural Center there.
• MarKorean professional baseball launched with six teams.

Korea in 1983

KBS's live special “Finding Dispersed Families” ran for more than four months and moved the entire nation. Security tragedies followed one after another: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was shot down by a Soviet fighter in…

• Feb 25North Korean air force pilot Lee Ung-pyong defected to the South in a MiG-19.
• May 5A hijacked Chinese airliner made an emergency landing in Chuncheon, leading to the first official contact between the Seoul and Beijing governments.
• Jun 30KBS began its live special “Finding Dispersed Families,” which continued until November.

Korea in 1984

With the Asian Games and Olympics approaching, urban infrastructure expanded, including the completion of Seoul Subway Line 2's loop. In May, Pope John Paul II visited and canonized 103 Korean martyrs, and in September…

• May 6Pope John Paul II visited Korea and canonized 103 Korean martyrs at a Mass on Yeouido, Seoul.
• May 22Seoul Subway Line 2 opened in full and began loop service.
• SepChun Doo-hwan became the first South Korean head of state to make an official visit to Japan.

Korea in 1985

In the February general election, the newly founded New Korea Democratic Party emerged as the main opposition, amplifying calls for direct presidential elections. In September, hometown visiting groups of separated fami…

• Feb 12In the 12th National Assembly elections, the New Korea Democratic Party became the leading opposition party.
• May 23Seventy-three university students occupied the U.S. Cultural Center in Seoul for three days.
• Jun 24Labor unions in the Guro Industrial Complex staged a joint solidarity strike.

Korea in 1986

The so-called “three lows”—a weak dollar, cheap oil and low interest rates—fueled rapid growth, and the trade balance swung into surplus. The Seoul Asian Games in September and October showcased the country's ability to…

• JunIt emerged that a female student had been sexually tortured during interrogation at the Bucheon police station, causing a public outcry.
• Sep 14Days before the Asian Games opened, a bomb exploded outside the Gimpo International Airport terminal, killing five people.
• Sep 20The 10th Asian Games opened in Seoul and ran through October 5.

Korea in 1987

Sparked by the death of student Park Jong-chul under police torture in January, the June Democratic Struggle spread nationwide, and the June 29 Declaration led to a constitutional amendment restoring direct presidential…

• Jan 14Seoul National University student Park Jong-chul died under torture during police interrogation at the Namyeong-dong anti-communist bureau.
• Jun 10The June Democratic Struggle, demanding democracy and direct presidential elections, swept the country.
• Jun 29Ruling party chairman Roh Tae-woo issued the June 29 Declaration, accepting direct presidential elections.

Korea in 1988

President Roh Tae-woo took office in February, launching the Sixth Republic, and the April elections produced a National Assembly controlled by the opposition. The successful Seoul Olympics in September and October rais…

• Feb 25Roh Tae-woo was inaugurated as president, launching the Sixth Republic.
• Apr 26In the 13th National Assembly elections, the ruling party failed to win a majority, leaving the opposition in control.
• Jul 7President Roh issued the July 7 Special Declaration calling for expanded inter-Korean exchanges.

Korea in 1989

Overseas travel was fully liberalized in January, and under the Nordpolitik policy relations with the Eastern Bloc began to open, starting with diplomatic ties with Hungary in February. Unauthorized visits to North Kore…

• FebUnder Nordpolitik, South Korea established diplomatic relations with Hungary, its first with an Eastern Bloc country.
• MarRev. Moon Ik-hwan visited North Korea without government permission and met Kim Il Sung.
• May 3Seven police officers died in a fire during an operation to end a student protest at Dong-eui University in Busan.

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