Today in Korean history

1936 - Sohn Ki-jung, a Korean runner, secured victory in the marathon during the 11th Olympic Games held in Berlin. Sohn competed under the Japanese flag, as Korea was under Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945.

1985 - North Korea, in a joint business venture with a French firm, unveiled the Koryo Hotel in its capital, Pyongyang. The twin tower hotel stands out as one of the most striking landmarks in the nation's communist capital.

1992 - Hwang Young-jo claimed victory in the marathon at the 25th Olympic Games, which took place in Barcelona, Spain.

2007 - South Korea's central bank increased its key rate for August, raising it to 5 percent. This was the bank's first consecutive rate hike, aimed at tamping down inflation by managing the excessive liquidity in the economy.

2008 - Choi Min-ho, a judo athlete from South Korea, clinched a gold medal in the men's 60kg judo competition at the Beijing Olympics. This win marked the first gold medal for South Korea in those Olympic Games.

2010 - North Korea unleashed approximately 130 rounds of artillery onto the disputed maritime border with South Korea, in the Yellow Sea. The move came as a response to South Korea's extensive navy drills. Fortunately, there were no reported damages to South Korean vessels.

2011 - South Korea's unification ministry's website fell victim to an attempted cyberattack.

2012 - North Korea appears to have abandoned its former planned economy system and state rationing system. In its stead, the new regime under Kim Jong-un has introduced more liberal management policies, according to a recent news report.