July 1st

1906 — A Japanese colonial agency takes control of the Joseon Dynasty Railways. The Japanese imperial regime established the agency in Seoul the previous year, under the name “Joseon Tonggambu”, as part of efforts to seize diplomatic rights and gradually increase its control over royal authority. Korea was colonized by Japan from 1910 to 1945.

1950 — American infantry troops land at the port of Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and Canadian warships set sail for South Korea as part of NATO’s coalition forces UN to participate in the Korean War, which broke out on June 25, when North Korea attacked South Korea. The United Nations Security Council, prior to this date, held an emergency meeting to adopt a resolution to send coalition troops to the South to help stop the invasion of Communist forces from North Korea. . The war ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, leaving the two Koreas technically at war.

1957 — United Nations Command is transferred from Japan to South Korea. Its headquarters are currently located in Yongsan, central Seoul.

1967 — Former General Park Chung-hee is sworn in for his second term as president. Park came to power in a military coup in 1961 and was formally appointed president by Parliament in 1963. In order to remain in office, Park amended the Constitution in 1969 to allow a president to serve three consecutive terms. Park was re-elected in 1971, but again amended the Constitution in 1972 to secure the presidency for life. However, in 1979 he was assassinated by his intelligence chief, Kim Jae-kyu. While his ambitious plans to industrialize the country yielded tangible successes, such as increasing average household income and exports, he was also criticized for leading a dictatorship that suppressed popular pro-democracy movements. .

1976 — The Export-Import Bank of South Korea (Eximbank) is launched.

1977 — South Korea launches a mandatory health insurance program for companies with 500 or more employees.

— South Korea begins to impose value-added tax (VAT).

1989 — North Korea hosts the 13th in Pyongyang. World Festival of Youth and Students.

1995 — The government sets up a real-name property registration system to prevent runaway speculation, in line with a campaign promise by then-President Kim Young-sam.

1996 — South Korea begins paying unemployment benefits.

2003 — The Seoul Metropolitan Government begins restoration of Cheonggyecheon, a stream that runs 5.8 kilometers through the heart of downtown Seoul. The creek had been covered with asphalt and cement during government-led industrialization efforts in the 1970s. The project was completed in 2005.

2007 — The United States Armed Forces in South Korea (USFK) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of its headquarters in Seoul. The establishment of USFK headquarters coincided with the transfer of United Nations Command from Tokyo to the South Korean capital on July 1, 1957.

2011 — A free trade agreement between South Korea and the European Union (EU) comes into effect, making Europe South Korea’s second largest trading partner after China. The free trade agreement between South Korea and the EU was signed in October 2010.

2013 — Lee Jay-hyun, chairman of CJ Group, a food and entertainment conglomerate, is imprisoned for setting up secret funds and tax evasion.

2014 — An aide to the fugitive billionaire owner of the sunken ferry Sewol is formally detained for further questioning over allegations he helped the owner’s wife evade police pursuit.

2015 – A Seoul court rejects a US hedge fund’s request to block a proposed merger of two Samsung Group units, removing the legal hurdle for the major South Korean conglomerate to go ahead with the agreement, considered crucial for his transition to power.

2017 — President Moon Jae-in holds a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss trade and North Korea issues.

2018 — The two Koreas resume their ship-to-ship radio connection for seamless communication at sea for the first time in 10 years.

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