Seoul:South Korea's National Assembly, controlled by President Park Chung-hee's ruling party, removed Kim Young-sam, head of the opposition New Democratic Party, from his parliamentary seat in 1979 due to his anti-government activities. This action sparked nationwide pro-democracy protests. A few weeks later, President Park was assassinated by his intelligence chief, Kim Jae-kyu.

According to Yonhap News Agency, in 1999, a radioactive leak at the Wolsong No. 3 nuclear power plant exposed 22 workers, leading to a comprehensive safety review of all nuclear facilities in the country.

In 2005, a tragic incident occurred at a public stadium in Sangju, approximately 160 kilometers southeast of Seoul, where eleven people were crushed to death and 70 others injured during a concert stampede.

A year later, in 2006, North Korea announced plans to conduct a nuclear test, citing U.S. hostility as the reason. Despite international criticism, North Korea conducted its first known nuclear test six days later, on October 9.

In 2007, a significant diplomatic event took place as South Korean President Roh Moon-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il held summit talks in Pyongyang, marking the first inter-Korean summit in seven years.

In 2015, a man in Busan stabbed the owner of an indoor shooting range and fled with a .45-caliber handgun and 18 bullets. The 29-year-old suspect was captured after a few hours, and the weapon and ammunition were recovered.

Renowned sports figure Kim Un-yong, former vice president of the International Olympic Committee, passed away in 2017 at the age of 86. Kim was instrumental in Seoul's successful bid to host the 1988 Summer Olympics and was the founding president of the World Taekwondo Federation and the South Korean national Olympic committee.

In 2019, Typhoon Mitag, the 18th typhoon of the season, struck the southern and eastern regions of South Korea, resulting in the death of ten people and leaving four others missing.