It was a year of so many downs, the ups had to come in response. After a horrendous arson, people around the country chipped in to help. Politicians got caught, but the truth came to light. Plans fell through, were modified, and eventually worked. A few glimpses of 2003, the year of silver linings:

Roh’s presidential inauguration, confidence vote controversy	The ruling party divided, a four-party system emerges
Roh Moo-hyun was inaugurated on February 25 for the 17th presidential term of the Republic of Korea. He advocated an end to authoritarianism and the resolution of conflict through dialogue, but social divisions have deepened as a result of extremist expressions of regionalism and group-ism. Approval ratings for the president have fallen to below 30 percent. With allegations of corruption among his aides mounting, the Roh suddenly played his “confidence vote” card on October 10. At not yet one year since taking office, Roh seems to be near the end of his term.	For the first time in the history of the republic, a ruling party divided within the first year of taking power. After the presidential election, antagonism arose between the pro-Roh and anti-Roh factions of the Millennium Democratic Party, and on November 11, the pro-Roh camp left the MDP to form the new Uri Party. Together with the Grand National Party and the United Liberal Democrats, a new four-party system emerged. Problems over appointments, calls for the dismissal of ministers, and the reconsidering of a special prosecution to investigate corruption in Cheong Wa Dae have been byproducts of hte political reorganization.
Investigations into slush funds and Cheong Wa Dae corruption	The Daegu subway arson and its 340 victims
The SK bribery scandal was the focal point for a “Slush Fund Hurricane” that swept across the nation this year. Investigations of large corporations and both the ruling and opposition parties have provided clues into the provision of illegal campaign funds. The LG bribery scandal and others like it have revealed in detail the Grand National Party’s illegal campaign fundraising. Even President Roh has been badly hurt as a result of the scandals. The arrest of former aide Choi Do-sul prompted Roh’s call for a vote of confidence in his leadership, and one-by-one, presidential aides like Ahn Hui-jeong, Kang Geum-weon, Yeo Taek-su and others have either been arrested or have come under investigation. Throw in Yang Gil-seung, and the majority of presidential aides will have been criminal suspects by next year’s special investigation into corruption among President Roh’s aides.	The February 18 arson attack on the Daegu subway was a tragedy the likes of which had never been seen in Korea. A man in his 50s, depressed due to illness and wanting not to die alone, started a fire that in the space of 24 seconds spread to two subway trains, burning up 12 of their cars and leaving 192 dead and 148 wounded. Despite the criticism surrounding the authorities’ response to the tragedy, a joint funeral service was held on June 29. Citizens donated W66.8 billion, and Jungang-no Station -- the scene of the incident -- will resume service on December 31.
The conflict over Buan County’s nuclear waste facility	A special investigation into the “Cash for Summit” scandal results in suicide
The “Buan Incident” lasted for more than five months, starting with the July selection of Buan County, North Jeolla Province, as the site for the construction of a nuclear waste facility. Citizens who opposed the construction held continuous gatherings and demonstrations, and for 41 days refused to send their children to school. The governor was seriously beaten by residents, and nearly 800 people were wounded during violent demonstrations. The government put forth compensation and referendum plans, but on December 10 it gave in, announcing that it would accept applications from other prospective building sites.	“The DJ Government provided US$100 million of the US$500 million sent.” That was the result announced in June by the special investigation team assembled to look into the “Cash for Summit” scandal. Park Jie-Won’s boasting that he had not given North Korea one dollar was revealed to have been a bold-faced lie, and the genuineness of the “Sunshine Policy” was dealt a mortal blow. All those involved were found guilty and sentenced during the course of two hearings. In the aftermath, Hyundai Asan chairman Chung Mong-hun jumped to his death, after having given statements concerning the role of Hyundai in providing illegal payments to North Korea. Prosecutors ended their investigations with Park Jie-won and Gwon No-gap, their role in the transfer of Hyundai money having been revealed.
3,000 troops gear up for Iraq	Gangnam real estate prices skyrocket
On October 4, the United States officially requested a Polish-style division from Korea for service in Iraq, which was followed by intense discussions between both Korea and the United States and within Korea itself as to the size and nature of the troops to be sent. After a UN resolution on Iraq was passed, however, the government decided on October 18 that it would take into account the nation’s interests and the Korea-United States alliance in determining the nature of the deployment. On December 17, the government made its final decision, calling for a detachment of 3,000 combat and non-combat troops to be sent to Iraq and to take full responsibility for a designated region.	Record low interest rates and over W400 trillion in liquidity drove up housing prices in Seoul’s Gangnam area. The price of housing there soared by 25 percent, with one apartment after another shooting over W100 million. The government, surprised, announced that it would control housing prices and announced nearly 20 anti-speculation measures, which quickly proved to be futile. The government finally announced on October 29 a comprehensive approach -- which included new financial, tax, and business measures -- and land prices began to stabilize.
Credit card defaults rapidly increase, while youth unemployment deepens	Lotto fever hits Korea
With fewer employment opportunities due to a stagnant economy and lower family earnings, the number of individuals who defaulted on their credit card debts came close to 3.6 million by the end of November. Moreover, with companies reducing their hiring of new employees or refusing to hire at all, the percentage of recent high school and university graduates who joined the unemployment lines skyrocketed to 8 percent, 1-2 percentage points higher than previous years.	The Lotto craze, in which ticket purchasers can win big by selecting the right six numbers out of a pool of 45, hit Korea hard this year. Because of the economic downturn, pockets were mostly empty, but Lotto ticket sales from this year reached a combined W3.7 trillion, giving one an idea of how tightly Lotto fever gripped the nation. When the jackpot reached its highest total of W40.7 billion, things really got crazy, and Lotto Syndrome -- buying a ticket and waiting for the weekend drawings -- became a national epidemic.