Dec 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol attempts to impose martial law, deploying troops to the National Assembly and Election Commission, an action that later triggers criminal investigations and charges of obstruction and insurrection [1][4][5].

Apr 2024 – Two Democratic Party lawmakers lose parliamentary seats after the Supreme Court upholds election‑law violations, highlighting ongoing enforcement of campaign‑finance rules [5].

Jan 8, 2026 – KOSPI closes at a fresh record of 4,552.37, extending a five‑day rally driven by technology, defense and shipbuilding stocks while the won weakens against the dollar, underscoring investor confidence amid political turbulence [5].

Jan 8, 2026 – President Lee Jae‑Myung declares that his recent four‑day state visit to China and a second summit with President Xi lay the foundation for fully restoring bilateral ties, signalling a diplomatic pivot toward Beijing [5].

Jan 8, 2026 – The Defense Ministry announces plans to dismantle the Defense Counterintelligence Command, a 49‑year‑old unit implicated in Yoon’s 2024 martial‑law bid, indicating a major institutional reform pending completion of the process [5].

Jan 8, 2026 – Seoul Central District Court schedules an arrest‑warrant hearing for MBK Partners chairman Kim Byung‑ju and three executives, a step that could lead to detentions and intensify scrutiny of private‑equity governance [5].

Jan 12, 2026 (scheduled) – The arrest‑warrant hearing for MBK Partners executives is set for early January, reflecting the judiciary’s rapid response to alleged fraud and capital‑markets violations [5].

Jan 16, 2026 – President Lee convenes a bipartisan luncheon at Cheong‑Wa‑Dae with ruling, opposition and minor‑party leaders, aiming to secure cross‑party cooperation on state affairs amid heightened political tension [3].

Jan 16, 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court hands former President Yoon a five‑year prison term for obstruction of investigators linked to his December 2024 martial‑law declaration, marking the first sentencing in the case [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – A city bus crashes near Seodaemun Station, injuring 13 people, prompting investigations into driver error and pedestrian safety in western Seoul [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – KOSPI closes at a record 4,840.74, extending an 11‑day winning streak powered by semiconductor gains while the won continues to lose ground against the dollar [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – Vice ministers of unification and foreign affairs launch a regular consultative channel to coordinate North‑Korea policy, institutionalizing inter‑ministerial dialogue [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – A fire in Seoul’s Guryong shantytown displaces about 200 residents, highlighting ongoing housing‑security challenges in the capital [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – North Korea prepares large‑scale youth celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, a mobilization effort ahead of a key party congress later in the year [3].

Jan 22, 2026 – The AI Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trustworthiness takes effect, creating the world’s first comprehensive AI regulatory framework to curb misinformation and other risks [2].

Jan 22, 2026 – KOSPI briefly spikes above 5,000 points intraday, driven by AI‑related semiconductor optimism, before closing at 4,952.53, illustrating market sensitivity to emerging tech trends [2].

Jan 22, 2026 – Seoul’s city government conditionally approves BTS’s March comeback concert in Gwanghwamun Square, pending safety compliance, signaling cultural‑industry support for the globally popular group [2].

Jan 22, 2026 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young pledges to pursue mutually beneficial, multilateral projects to resume inter‑Korean exchanges, indicating a diplomatic push toward dialogue [2].

Feb 19, 2026 – A Seoul court sentences former President Yoon Suk‑yeol to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection tied to his 2024 martial‑law attempt, a harsher penalty than the earlier five‑year term and reflecting the culmination of the legal saga [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – KOSPI climbs to an all‑time high of 5,677.25 points, up 3.09 %, propelled by semiconductor and AI‑related stocks, marking the first breach of the 5,600‑point barrier [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – President Lee urges tougher penalties for covert price‑collusion schemes in commodities such as sugar, flour, school uniforms and housing, linking stricter sanctions to efforts to curb rising home prices [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – Naver Corp. restores full operation of its Naver Pay mobile‑payment platform by 4:30 p.m. after a midday outage that blocked reward‑balance checks and payments, demonstrating rapid tech‑service recovery [1].