Diplomatic pivots trace Korea’s post‑war alignment South Korea’s foreign‑policy arc begins with the Korean Communist Party’s 1946 endorsement of a UN trusteeship, moves to President Rhee’s 1953 overture to resume ties with Japan, and later includes a 2003 cooperation pact with Russia on North Korea’s nuclear issue; the nation also saw Ban Ki‑moon ascend to UN secretary‑general in 2007 and hosted high‑level inter‑Korean talks in 2018 about Olympic participation [1][2].

Domestic security policies evolved from curfew to media control The 1982 abolition of a 37‑year nighttime curfew opened evenings to commercial activity, while a 1951 prescreening regime limited periodical freedom, illustrating shifting internal controls; recent security concerns resurfaced with a 2022 dispute over North Korea’s claimed hypersonic missile launch and a 2024 stabbing of opposition leader Lee Jae‑myung during a site visit [1][2].

Political scandal of 2017 rippled through judiciary and abroad The first court appearance of Choi Soon‑sil in 2017 marked a pivotal moment in the Park Geun‑hye corruption saga, and the same year saw Chung Yoo‑ra detained in Denmark on illegal‑stay charges, both underscoring the scandal’s domestic and international legal ramifications [1][2].

Recent security incidents underscore ongoing volatility South Korea’s defense ministry labeled North Korea’s 2022 hypersonic missile claim “exaggerated,” reflecting persistent mistrust, while the 2024 attack on Lee Jae‑myung highlighted heightened threats to political figures, reinforcing concerns about public safety amid a turbulent political climate [1][2].