Today in Korean history

1979 marked a turbulent period in South Korean history when martial law was declared in Busan and Masan, two cities on the southern coast. This decision came after days of violent anti-government protests that spread across the nation. The unrest ultimately culminated in the tragic assassination of President Park Chung-hee on October 26, 1979, carried out by his own intelligence chief, Kim Jae-kyu.

In a significant diplomatic move, South Korea established an extradition treaty with China in 2000, enhancing international cooperation in criminal matters.

Daegu, a city situated approximately 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul, witnessed the grand opening of its second subway line in 2005. However, this development was delayed by three years due to the lingering effects of the Asian financial crisis.

In 2016, South Korea voiced its strong disapproval of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's practice of sending ritual offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine and the visit by lawmakers to pay homage to war dead, raising concerns over historical sensitivities.

Building on diplomatic efforts, South Korean President Moon Jae-in extended a verbal invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Pope Francis to visit Pyongyang in 2018. The pontiff expressed a possibility of visiting North Korea following the official invitation.

Fast forward to 2024, and the National Intelligence Service announced that North Korea had decided to deploy about 10,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine, marking a significant shift in the country's foreign policy stance.