The leaders of the two Koreas and the United States met at Panmunjom, though nuclear talks made little headway, and Japan’s export curbs chilled relations and set off a boycott of Japanese goods. “Parasite” became the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
The year in Korea
Apr 11The Constitutional Court ruled the abortion ban unconstitutional and ordered the law revised by the end of 2020. [Source]
Jun 30U.S. President Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom and became the first sitting U.S. president to step onto North Korean soil. [Source]
Jul 1Japan’s trade ministry announced tighter export controls on South Korea, prompting a boycott of Japanese products in Korea. [Source]
Sep 9Cho Kuk was appointed justice minister amid allegations involving his family, but resigned 35 days later on October 14. [Source]
Sep 18Police announced they had identified Lee Choon-jae as the suspect in the Hwaseong serial murders, unsolved for some 30 years. [Source]
Apr 15A major fire broke out in the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. [Source]
Songs, shows & trends
Film
Lee Byeong-heon – “Extreme Job” — A comedy about narcotics detectives running a fried-chicken shop as a cover, released January 23 and passing 10 million viewers in 15 days. [Source]
Bong Joon Ho – “Parasite” — Premiered at Cannes in May, it became the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or. [Source]
TV drama
KBS2 – “When the Camellia Blooms” — Starring Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Ha-neul, it aired from September 18 and also streamed on Netflix. [Source]
tvN – “Crash Landing on You” — A romance between a chaebol heiress who crash-lands in North Korea and a North Korean officer, it began on December 14; its 21.7% finale set a tvN record. [Source]
Year League: the best year
Sources
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2010s · The Global Korean Wave and the Candlelight Protests
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