2023 in South Korea explained

The following lists events in the year 2023 in South Korea.

Events

• 12 January - South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol stated that if the security situation regarding the threat from North Korean nuclear weapons deteriorates further, South Korea would consider building their own nuclear weapons to deterent the North or request that the United States deploy nuclear weapons in South Korea.
• 19 January - Iran and South Korea summon each other ambassadors in a deepening spat between both countries, after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called Iran "the enemy of the United Arab Emirates" while addressing South Korean troops stationed there.^[1]
• 30 January - South Korea lifted COVID-19 mask mandates up for most indoor spaces.^[2]
• 3 February - A court in South Korea sentences former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk to two years in prison after convicting him on charges of abuse of power and helping his children enter prestigious schools under fake credentials.^[3]
• 4 February - Nine sailors are missing after their fishing vessel capsizes off the coast of Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. President Yoon Suk-yeol has deployed the coast guard to conduct an air-sea rescue for the missing people.^[4]
• 20 February - Leader of the People Power Party Chung Jin Suk said that South Korea might need nuclear weapons.^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}
• 6 March - South Korea agrees to pay compensation to its citizens who were forced to work in Japanese factories during World War II.^[11]
• 12 March - Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon called for South Korea to have Nuclear weapons.^{[12] [13]}
• 11 April - Hundreds of residents of Gangneung, are forced to evacuate as more than 2,300 firefighters combat a spreading wildfire.^[14]
• 16 June - More than 80 people are injured in a multi-vehicle accident involving three school buses in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province.^[15]
• 25 June to 26 July  - According to South Korea's National Fire Agency official confirmed report, a heavy massibie torrential rain, following flash flooding, landslide hit around Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, include 15 vehicles trapped by flood swept in Second Gunpyeng underpass, and total kill 52 persons, injure 35 persons.
• 28 June – South Korea drops the traditional age counting method in favor of the international standard.^[16]
• 1 to 12 August: 25th World Scout Jamboree^[17]
• 8 August – The South Korean government evacuates over 36,000 participants of the 25th World Scout Jamboree from their campsite at Saemangeum, North Jeolla, ahead of Typhoon Khanun's expected landfall.
• 12 August – South Koreans gather in central Seoul to protest against Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.^[18]
• 13 November – In baseball, the LG Twins defeat the KT Wiz to win the Korean Series in five games, capturing their third championship and their first since 1994.^[19]
• 23 November – The High Court of Seoul orders Japan to pay compensation of ₩200 million (around ¥22 million or US$154,000) to 16 comfort women during World War II, overturning a previous ruling that denied the women's claims due to sovereign immunity.^[20]
• 25 December – Two people are killed and 29 others are injured in a fire at a residential building in Seoul.^[21]

Holidays

As per in the [Presidential Decree No. 28394, 2017. 10. 17., partially amended], the following days are declared holidays in South Korea:^[22]

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 21 January to 24 January - Korean New Year
• 1 March - March 1st Movement Day
• 5 May - Children's Day South Korea
• 27 May - Buddha's Birthday
• 6 June - Memorial Day
• 15 August - National Liberation Day
• 28 September to 30 September - Chuseok
• 3 October - National Foundation Day
• 9 October - Hangul Day
• 25 December - Christmas Day

Arts and entertainment

• 2023 in South Korean music
• 2023 in South Korean television
• List of South Korean films of 2023
• List of 2023 box office number-one films in South Korea
• 28th Busan International Film Festival
• 32nd Buil Film Awards
• 2023 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards
• 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards

Deaths

• 5 January – Kim Deok-ju, 89, lawyer and judge, chief justice (1990–1993)^[23]
• 19 January – Yoon Jeong-hee, 78, actress^[24]
  • 19 April – Moonbin, 25, singer, Member of Kpop Boy Band Astro 18 September – Byun Hee-bong, 81, actor^[25]
• 3 December – Kim Soo-yong, 94, director^[26]
• 27 December – Lee Sun-kyun, 48, actor ^[27]
• 31 December – Jaerock Lee, 80, Christian pastor and convicted sex offender, founder of the Manmin Central Church.^[28]

Notes and References

1. News: Shin . Hyonhee . 2023-01-19 . South Korea, Iran summon each other's envoys as spat over Yoon remarks deepens . en . Reuters . 2023-01-19.
2. Web site: South Korea drops indoor anti-COVID mask mandate, infection fears linger . 2023-02-03 . MSN . en-US.
3. News: S. Korean court sentences ex-minister to 2 years in prison . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-02-03 . 0190-8286.
4. Web site: 2023-02-05 . S Korea searches for missing crew after fishing boat capsizes . 2023-02-05 . Oman Observer . en.
5. News: South Korea's ruling party leader hints at need for nuclear weapons . Financial Times . 20 February 2023 .
6. Web site: Ruling party leader says calls for own nuclear armament boosted by N.K. Provocations . 20 February 2023 .
7. Web site: PPP Interim Chair Calls for Nuclear Armament to be Considered after N. Korea's Provocations .
8. Web site: North Korea Launches More Missiles, Calls Pacific 'Our Firing Range' . 19 February 2023 .
9. Web site: ROK must consider nukes, lawmakers say after North Korea's latest missile launch | NK News . 20 February 2023 .
10. News: North Korea launches more missiles as Kim sister warns Pacific could become 'firing range' . The Guardian . 20 February 2023 . McCurry . Justin .
11. News: 2023-03-06 . South Korea to compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labour . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-03-06.
12. Web site: South Korea needs nuclear weapons, says influential Seoul mayor . 13 March 2023 .
13. News: Exclusive: Seoul mayor calls for South Korean nuclear weapons to counter threat from North . Reuters . 13 March 2023 . Shin . Hyonhee .
14. Web site: 2023-04-11 . 1 dead, hundreds flee wildfire in South Korean seaside city . 2023-04-11 . AP NEWS . en.
15. News: 2023-06-16 . Over 80 hurt in South Korea school-bus crash . en . Reuters . 2023-06-16.
16. News: South Koreans become younger under new age-counting law . BBC.
17. Web site: 2023 SaeManGeum 25th World Scout Jamboree Official Site . 1 March 2022 . 2023 SaeManGeum 25th WorldScout Jamboree Official Site . Korea Scout Association.
18. News: 2023-08-12 . South Korean activists protest against Fukushima water discharge . en . Reuters . 2023-08-13.
19. Web site: Yonhap . 2023-11-13 . LG Twins capture 1st Korean Series title in 29 years . 2023-11-14 . . en.
20. Web site: S. Korea court rules in favour of victims of wartime sexual slavery . 2023-11-24 . Manila Bulletin . en.
21. Web site: Two killed and 29 injured in Seoul apartment fire . 2023-12-25 . The Star . en.
22. Web site: South Korea Public Holidays 2023. 27 October 2022 . Public Holidays Global.
23. News: 박 . 용필 . 2023-01-05 . 김덕주 전 대법원장 별세 . 2023-01-05 . m.khan.co.kr . ko.
24. Web site: '알츠하이머 투병' 윤정희 프랑스 파리서 별세, 향년 79세 . Kwak Myeong-dong . 'Alzheimer's disease' Yoon Jung-hee dies in Paris, France, aged 79 . January 20, 2023 . January 20, 2023 . My Daily . ko.
25. Web site: Actor Byun Hee-bong dies of pancreatic cancer at age 81. The Korea Times. 18 September 2023. en.
26. Web site: 韓 영화 이끈 故김수용 감독 영화인장..안성기·이병헌 장례위원 맡는다[종합] ]. The late director Kim Soo-yong, who led Korean films, takes on the role of funeral committee member for Ahn Seong-ki and Lee Byung-hun. [Comprehensive] . Ahn Yun-ji . Star News . Naver. December 3, 2023. December 3, 2023. ko.
27. Web site: 이선균 사망…마약 스캔들 파장 2개월만 충격. Lee Seon-kyun dies... The impact of the drug scandal is shocking in just two months . Choi Ji-yoon . . . December 27, 2023. December 27, 2023. ko.
28. Web site: 최 . 민지 . 2023-12-31 . '무안단물' 효과 없었나…'신도 성폭행' 만민중앙교회 이재록 목사 사망 . 2023-12-31 . . ko.