Pyeongchang won the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics on its third attempt. A Seoul referendum on free school lunches and a mayoral by-election shook up politics, while torrential rains and a large-scale blackout disrupted daily life. At year’s end, news came of Kim Jong-il’s death.
The year in Korea
JanNavy special forces rescued the crew of the Samho Jewelry, hijacked by Somali pirates, in Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden. [Source]
JulPyeongchang was chosen to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. [Source]
JulTorrential rain in central Korea triggered landslides on Seoul’s Umyeonsan, causing deaths. [Source]
AugA Seoul referendum on the scope of free school lunches failed to reach the turnout threshold and went uncounted. [Source]
SepA surge in electricity demand led to rolling blackouts across the country. [Source]
OctPark Won-soon won the Seoul mayoral by-election. [Source]
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Around the world
MarA massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, leading to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. [Source]