Seoul: A significant chapter in Korean history concluded in 1598 with the end of a seven-year invasion by Japanese forces under the leadership of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This prolonged conflict severely weakened the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the invasion and subsequent events in Korean history highlight a series of diplomatic and domestic challenges faced by the nation. In 1953, President Rhee Syng-man engaged in discussions with his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Kai-shek, marking a period of diplomatic engagement. Further strengthening ties, South Korea signed a friendship treaty with Taiwan in 1964.
In an incident reflecting the complexities of international relations, then U.S. Ambassador to Korea Thomas Hubbard issued an apology on behalf of U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002. This apology was for the accidental deaths of two South Korean schoolgirls in a road accident involving a U.S. military vehicle.
The year 2006 saw a notable constitutional breach when the presidential office retracted its nomination of Jeon Hyo-sook to become the country's first female chief of the Constitutional Court. Jeon's resignation as a justice to serve a full six-year term as head of the court highlighted procedural controversies within the government.
In 2014, South Korea and Japan held the fifth round of talks in Seoul concerning the sensitive issue of Japan's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II. These discussions underscored ongoing historical grievances between the two nations.
Efforts to improve inter-Korean relations were evident in 2015 when South and North Korea agreed to hold vice-ministerial government talks. These were scheduled for December 11 at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, aiming to repair strained ties following a landmark deal in August of that year to ease military tension.
Reflecting on the legacy of past leaders, the wife of late former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan issued an apology in 2021 for the suffering caused during his presidency, particularly during the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju.
Most recently, in 2024, Seoul and its surrounding regions experienced the heaviest snowfall for November in 117 years, leading to injuries, traffic disruptions, and power outages, illustrating the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather events.