1906 – Ahn Ik‑tae is born in Pyongyang; his composition later becomes South Korea’s national anthem, symbolizing national identity[12].

1964 – South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Kenya, marking an early expansion of its African outreach[7].

1992 – South Korea forges diplomatic ties with Turkmenistan, extending its engagement into Central Asia[7].

1995 – Former President Roh Tae‑woo is indicted for accepting 280 billion won in bribes, highlighting a legacy of political corruption investigations[12].

1999 – South Korea signs an investment treaty with Israel, facilitating bilateral economic cooperation[7].

2009 – Figure‑skating star Kim Yu‑na wins the Four Continents title in Vancouver, underscoring South Korea’s rising winter‑sport profile[7]; the same year she captures the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, cementing her elite status[12].

2010 – South Korea and the United States finalize a new auto‑trade agreement, preserving a key pillar of their economic partnership[12].

2013 – The South Korean parliament approves the deployment of ~500 troops to aid Philippines relief after Typhoon Haiyan, demonstrating Seoul’s humanitarian commitment[12].

2016 – North Korea launches a long‑range rocket in violation of UN resolutions, heightening regional security tensions[7].

2019 – U.S. and North Korean officials hold working‑level talks in Pyongyang, a diplomatic effort following the Vietnam summit[7].

2024 – Police open an investigation into President Yoon Suk‑Yeol’s emergency martial‑law decree, probing alleged treason after the order is quickly overturned[12].

Dec 13, 2025 – Snowboarder Yu Seung‑eun, 17, wins silver in women’s big‑air at the Steamboat Springs World Cup, becoming the first South Korean to medal in that event and boosting the nation’s Olympic hopes[11].

Jan 20, 2026 – South Korean figure skaters travel to Beijing for the Four Continents Championships; Cha Jun‑hwan fine‑tunes his program after an ankle injury, while Shin Ji‑a and Lee Hae‑in prepare for their Olympic debuts[10].

Jan 31, 2026 – Short‑track team leader Choi Min‑jeong targets a third consecutive 1,500 m gold, while 18‑year‑old Rim Jong‑un bursts onto the scene with five World‑Tour golds; the Olympic short‑track schedule runs Feb 10‑21 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena[8].

Feb 3, 2026 – BTS announces a comeback concert for Mar 21, 2026 at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, to be streamed worldwide on Netflix, signaling a major cultural event alongside the Games[9].

Feb 12, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung salutes the national flag at Cheong Wa Dae, praising the women’s short‑track relay gold as proof of South Korea’s “short‑track powerhouse” reputation[6].

Feb 19, 2026 – Won Yun‑jong wins an IOC Athletes’ Commission seat with 1,176 votes, becoming the first South Korean winter Olympian on the commission and joining Moon Dae‑sung and Ryu Seung‑min as Korean representatives[5].

Feb 19, 2026 – President Lee posts on Facebook, “deepest congratulations” to the women’s relay squad and lauds their “leadership, trust and sincerity,” highlighting South Korea’s continued Olympic excellence[4].

Feb 20, 2026 – Kim Gil‑li captures gold in the women’s 1,500 m, delivering South Korea’s first double‑gold in short‑track at these Games and joining Shim Suk‑hee as the only debutant to win three medals in a single Olympics[1].

Feb 20, 2026 – Hwang Dae‑heon anchors the men’s 5,000‑m relay team to silver, tying his national medal record with five Olympic medals and leaving his participation at the 2030 Games uncertain due to injury concerns[2].

Feb 20, 2026 – The South Korean quartet (Rim Jong‑un, Lee Jeong‑min, Lee June‑seo, Hwang Dae‑heon) secures a second consecutive Olympic silver in the men’s 5,000‑m relay, adding to the nation’s short‑track medal haul and marking first Olympic medals for Lee Jeong‑min and Shin Dong‑min[3].

Mar 21, 2026 – BTS stages its comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square, streamed globally on Netflix, providing a high‑profile cultural showcase concurrent with the Winter Olympics[9].

2030 Winter Games – Hwang Dae‑heon’s potential appearance remains in doubt, reflecting ongoing concerns about his injury‑prone skating style[2].