2012 in South Korea explained

Events in the year 2012 in South Korea.

Incumbents

President – Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013)
Prime Minister – Kim Hwang-sik (2010–2013)

Events

January

The MOFAT Diamond Scandal is exposed.

February

February 13 – The governing Grand National Party is renamed the Saenuri Party.

March

March 8 – The South Korean military holds a live-fire land and air exercise near the North Korean border at Pocheon.^[1]
March 12 – The South Korean government lodges a formal protest against Chinese claims to territorial jurisdiction over the Socotra Rock (Ieodo).^[2]
March 15 – The South Korea–United States Free Trade Agreement comes into effect.^[3]
March 22 – Korea National Oil Corporation announces a cut in imports of Iranian oil.^[4]
March 23 – US President Barack Obama nominates Seoul-born Jim Yong Kim for the presidency of the World Bank.^[5]
March 26–27 – The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit is held in Seoul, with over 55 leaders from around the world in attendance.
March 29 – The Bank of Korea reports that with an easing global financial climate, South Korea returned to a current-account surplus in February.^[6]

April

April 1 – The Blue House releases a statement alleging that over 80% of the cases brought to light in the South Korean illegal surveillance incident of 2010 - 12 took place under the previous administration of Roh Moo-hyun.^[7]
April 11 – The 2012 legislative elections were held.

May

May 2 – At the COEX Intercontinental Hotel KeSPA, Ongamenet, Blizzard Entertainment and GomTV announced the introduction of StarCraft II to professional competitions in South Korea with the Brood War being completely phased out in October.^[8] ^[9]
May 12 – August 12 – The Expo 2012 took place.

July

July 18 - Tropical Storm Khanun makes landfall over South Jeolla Province.

September

September 17 - Typhoon Sanba made landfall on South Korea.

October

October 7 — Due to an agreement with the U.S., South Korea has been allowed to develop ballistic missiles with a range of as much as 800 km.

December

December 19 – The 2012 presidential elections were held.

Films

See main article: List of South Korean films of 2012.

Music

2012 in South Korean music
List of number-one hits of 2012
List of Gaon Album Chart number ones of 2012
List of number-one Streaming Songs of 2012
2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards

Sport

Notes and References

https://archive.today/20130124220258/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j9cRvSPx-K1vLbbrDSh1wNXtT3Eg?docId=CNG.d5609d332791999373511f4cc22ac787.91 S. Korea holds firing drill near tense border
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2012/03/12/0301000000AEN20120312008300315.HTML (LEAD) S. Korea protests China's jurisdictional claim on Ieodo
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2012/03/14/0301000000AEN20120314004900320.HTML S. Korea-U.S FTA takes effect, sets new era for bilateral ties
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-oil-korea-idUKBRE82L0JI20120322 S.Korea, Taiwan, S.Africa cut Iranian oil imports
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17481973 Obama names surprise World Bank candidate Jim Yong Kim
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-28/s-korea-posts-current-account-surplus-of-639-4-million-in-feb-.html South Korea Returns to Current-Account Surplus in February
https://archive.today/20120710223451/http://english.kbs.co.kr/News/News/News_view.html?page=1&No=89298&id=Po Blue House says More Than 80 Percent of Surveillance Carried Out During Former Administration
Web site: Confirmed: KeSPA and OGN with StarCraft 2 leagues in May and July. Gosugamers.net. 16 October 2012.
Web site: The Arrival of KeSPA. Cyber-sports.net. 16 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121127235347/http://cyber-sports.net/node/23427. November 27, 2012. dead. mdy-all.