Mass resignations by trainee doctors protesting a medical school quota increase strained the health system, and the opposition kept its majority in the April legislative election. Han Kang became the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, but the year ended in turmoil with President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration and impeachment and the Jeju Air disaster.
The year in Korea
Jan 2Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed while visiting the planned Gadeokdo airport site in Busan. [Source]
FebThousands of residents and interns resigned en masse in protest at the government’s plan to expand medical school admissions, disrupting hospital care. [Source]
Apr 10In the legislative election, opposition parties led by the Democratic Party retained their majority in the National Assembly. [Source]
Jun 24Battery explosions set off a fire at Aricell’s lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, killing 23 workers. [Source]
Dec 3President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law at 10:27 p.m.; early on December 4, the 190 lawmakers present passed a motion to lift it, and it was lifted about six hours after the declaration. [Source]
Dec 14The National Assembly impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol with 204 of 300 votes, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became acting president. [Source]
Dec 29Jeju Air Flight 2216 from Bangkok crashed while landing at Muan International Airport, killing 179 of the 181 people on board. [Source]
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Around the world
Jul 26The Paris Olympics were held from July 26 to August 11. [Source]
Nov 5Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, returning for a second term. [Source]
Songs, shows & trends
Film
Jang Jae-hyun – “Exhuma” — An occult thriller released on February 22 that became the year’s highest-grossing Korean film. [Source]
TV drama
tvN – “Lovely Runner” — Based on a web novel and starring Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon, it aired from April 8 to May 28. [Source]
TV & broadcasting
Netflix – “Culinary Class Wars” — Released September 17, the cooking contest pitting 20 established “white spoon” chefs against 80 “black spoon” challengers became a hit. [Source]
Books
Han Kang wins the Nobel Prize in Literature — Announced on October 10, she became the first South Korean and the first Asian woman to win the prize. [Source]
Music
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “APT.” — Released on October 18, the song built on a Korean drinking-game chant spent 12 weeks atop the Billboard Global 200. [Source]
Year League: the best year
Sources
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