1. Recession
Due to severely depressed domestic demand, the general populace is still complaining that the economy is worse now than it was following the 1997 foreign exchange crisis. Retail production, the primary indicator of the level of demand, recorded 21 continuous months of decline, the longest slide in history. Small businesses responded with "Kettle lid" demonstrations, led by small restaurant owners, that spoke eloquently of the economic troubles encountered by common folk. The government, which had publicly proclaimed a 5-percent growth rate for the year, belatedly acknowledged that economic growth would not surpass 4 percent.
2. Impeachment of President Roh and 17th General Election
On March 12, the National Assembly voted to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun, the first time such a move has been carried out under the Republic of Korea's constitutional system. President Roh's powers were immediately suspended, but on May 14, the Constitutional Court restored them following its dismissal of the impeachment. The backlash against the impeachment was stronger than expected, and in the 17th general election held April 15, the ruling Uri Party secured a parliamentary majority with 152 seats, while the Grand National and Millennium Democratic parties went on to crushing defeats.
3. Administrative Capital Relocation Plan Ruled Unconstitutional
On Oct. 21, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Special Law to Build a New Administrative Capital was unconstitutional. The capital relocation was a project pushed by President Roh as a campaign pledge. The government had to suspend its project immediately following the Constitutional Court's decision. The Chungcheong provinces, where the government on Aug. 11 decided to construct the new capital, bitterly opposed the decision, and a political storm ensued that included attacks on the Constitutional Court by the ruling Uri Party. The government plans to submit an alternative plan early next year.
4. Dr. Hwang Woo-suk Clones Human Embryo
On Feb 13, a Seoul National University research team led by Dr. Hwang Woo-suk cloned a human embryo for the first time in the world, extracting and harvesting stem cells for therapeutic use. This caused a scientific boom dubbed by some as the "Hwang Woo-suk Syndrome," leading Hwang to become the first scientist ever to be assigned protection by national bodyguards. "Science" magazine selected Hwang's research results as the third most significant discovery of the year.
5. Deployment of Troops to Iraq
Following five months of debate that followed a U.S. request in Sept. 2003, the National Assembly passed a bill in February to send additional troops to Iraq. The dispatch was delayed, however, as the deployment site was changed from Kirkuk to Arbil for security reasons. In June, there was much uproar after Korean Kim Sun-il was kidnapped by an armed group in Iraq and murdered. After many ups and downs, the 3,600 man Zaytun Division was sent to Arbil, Iraq from between August and late November.
6.Ryongchon Train Station Disaster
In the afternoon of April 22, trains carrying oil and liquid petoleum gas collided at Ryongchon Station, near the North Korean city of Shinuiju. The collision led to a huge explosion that resulted in thousands of casualties and all buildings within 600 meters of the station being destroyed. In an unprecedented move, North Korea quickly acknowledged the disaster and asked the international community for assistance. The civilian and government sectors in South Korea, as well as many nations around the world, including the United States and Japan, assisted in the reconstruction of the town.
7. Start of the FTA Era
After a 16-month struggle, the Korea-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was ratified by the National Assembly, and officially went into effect in April. With the conclusion of an FTA with Singapore in November, Korea built a new bridgehead to Southeast Asia. The government plans to begin negotiations on FTAs with ASEAN and EFTA from next year, auguring in a new era of FTAs throughout the region.
8. Yonsama Craze
The "Yonsama Syndrome," referring to Korean actor Bae Yong-joon, infected the islands of Japan as NHK broadcast the KBS drama "Winter Sonata." More than just another star export, Bae became a social phenomenon and galvanzied interest in Korean culture overseas. Yonsama, as he is known in Japan, was selected as the biggest word of the year in Japan, and the actor was chosen as one of the biggest hit products of 2004. Korea is enjoying the multibillion-won economic effects of Japanese fans coming to Korea in droves to see their idol.
9. University Entrance Exam Cheating
Cheating through the use of cell phones and proxy exam takers marred the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) that was taken on Nov. 17. The cheating scandal, which began in Gwangju, soon spread across the country, with 374 students being charged and 314 having their scores nullified in an unprecedented event. In particular, as it was learned that owners of private institute were involved and some of the cheating cases had been occurring over several years, the scandals revealed the evils of academic cliquism and ethical insensitivity that are rife in our society.
10. Arrest of Serial Killer Yoo Young-chul
Serial killer Yoo Young-chul was arrested on July 18. Having developed a hatred of women following his divorce, Yoo cruelly murdered 21 people -- mostly massage parlor girls and wealthy elderly individuals -- from last September. These were the most victims ever killed by one person since the foundation of the Republic. Yoo expressed scant regret for what he did, even saying, "I was going to kill 100 people, but unfortunately I was caught too soon." He was sentenced to death at his first trial on Dec. 13.
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