May 16th 1961
General Park Chung-hee seizes power through a military coup. This event marks the beginning of an authoritarian regime aiming to modernize the country while severely restricting political freedoms.
October 17, 1972
Park Chung-hee establishes the Yushin Constitution, strengthening his personal power. This turning point consolidates the dictatorship by justifying tight control over society in the name of national stability.
October 1973
A large military parade is held in Seoul to showcase the strength of Park Chung-hee’s regime. This display of power is intended to legitimize the Yushin regime and intimidate opponents, at a time when democratic protests are increasingly taking shape.
October 16–20, 1979
The Bu-Ma Uprising erupts in Busan and Masan, led by students and citizens. These protests reveal the extent of popular rejection of the Yushin regime and foreshadow an impending political crisis.
October 26, 1979
Park Chung-hee is assassinated by the head of his intelligence services. This event abruptly ends nearly two decades of dictatorship and ushers in a period of uncertainty.
May 18 to 27, 1980
The people of Gwangju rise up against the martial law imposed by Chun Doo-hwan's military regime. Student protests are violently suppressed, resulting in hundreds of deaths. This uprising becomes a founding event in South Korean democracy.
June 10, 1987
A massive protest movement, known as the “June Democratic Uprising,” breaks out demanding free elections. This democratic surge continues the fight against authoritarianism that began in the 1970s.
June 29, 1987
Under popular pressure, the military regime agrees to a democratic transition. This major victory realizes demands carried forward since Bu-Ma and the student mobilizations.
December 1987
The first direct presidential elections by universal suffrage are held. Although the military initially retains power, a new political era begins, marked by more open institutions.
February 25, 1993
Kim Young-sam becomes the first civilian president elected in over 30 years. This handover marks the culmination of a carefully built democratic transition.
October 29, 2016
Massive new protests erupt against President Park Geun-hye, daughter of Park Chung-hee, over corruption allegations. These demonstrations reflect the enduring strength of South Korea’s civil society, rooted in past struggles..
March 10, 2017
Park Geun-hye is impeached by the Constitutional Court. This judicial decision reflects a more mature democracy, vigilant against abuses of power.
May 10, 2017
Moon Jae-in is elected president after a campaign fueled by hopes for reform and justice. His election continues the democratic momentum sparked by the 2016 protests.
October 16, 2019
On the 40th anniversary of the Bu-Ma Uprising, commemorative events are held in Busan and Masan. These celebrations highlight the historical significance of the movement in the fight for democracy, honoring past struggles and reinforcing a commitment to democratic values.
December 2024
President Yoon Suk-yeol attempts to impose martial law, citing threats against the state. The decision, swiftly overturned due to parliamentary and public pressure, revives memories of past struggles against authoritarianism. Yoon's impeachment a few days later confirms the resilience of South Korea’s democratic institutions.
June 03, 2025
This ninth South Korean presidential election, held early following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, resulted in the victory of Lee Jae-myung, who became president for a non-renewable five-year term.