The match between the AI program AlphaGo and Go master Lee Sedol drew global attention, and Gyeongju was hit by what was then the strongest earthquake on record in the country. From autumn, candlelight protests over the Choi Soon-sil scandal spread, and in December the National Assembly voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye.
The year in Korea
Jan 6North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test at the Punggye-ri test site in Kilju County. [Source]
Feb 10The Park Geun-hye government shut down the Kaesong Industrial Region and recalled all South Korean staff. [Source]
Mar 9DeepMind’s Go program AlphaGo played a five-game match against Lee Sedol in Seoul from March 9 to 15, winning every game except the fourth. [Source]
Apr 13In the legislative election, the Democratic Party defied the polls and became the largest party, edging the ruling Saenuri Party by one seat. [Source]
Sep 12A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Gyeongju, the strongest ever recorded in the country at the time. [Source]
Sep 28The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, known as the “Kim Young-ran Act,” took effect, banning improper requests and gifts to public officials and others. [Source]
Oct 29The first candlelight rally over the Choi Soon-sil scandal was held, and turnout grew rapidly in the following weeks. [Source]
Dec 9The National Assembly voted 234 of its 300 members in favor of impeaching President Park Geun-hye, suspending her presidential powers. [Source]
Jun 23The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum, with 51.9% in favor. [Source]
Nov 8Republican Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election. [Source]
Songs, shows & trends
TV drama
KBS – “Descendants of the Sun” — Starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, it premiered on February 24, was simulcast in China and sold to 32 countries. [Source]
tvN – “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” — A fantasy drama starring Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun that premiered on December 2 and set one of the highest ratings in Korean cable TV. [Source]
Film
Yeon Sang-ho – “Train to Busan” — Released on July 20, the zombie thriller became the year’s first Korean film to pass 10 million admissions. [Source]
Music
BLACKPINK debuts — The group debuted in August with the single album “Square One,” whose “Whistle” topped the Korean digital chart. [Source]
Year League: the best year
Sources
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2010s · The Global Korean Wave and the Candlelight Protests
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