Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history



Jan. 29

1906 -- Emperor Gojong gives a reporter of the London Tribune a secret letter
opposing the Protectorate Treaty that Japan forced Korea to sign on Nov. 17,
1905. On that day, Hirobumi Ito, who was formerly Japanese prime minister and
later became the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, broke into the palace
with a large retinue to confront Emperor Gojong with demands that virtually
amounted to the surrender of Korea's national identity. Korea was under Japanese
colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

1990 -- The Ministry of Defense announces a plan to realign U.S. Air Force bases
in the country, including the withdrawal of ones in Daegu, Gwangju and Suwon.

1992 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Uzbekistan.

2001 -- South and North Korea hold their third Red Cross talks to discuss the
reunions of family members separated in the 1950-53 Korean War.

2003 -- Allegations surface that Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., the shipping arm of
Hyundai Group, made a secret payment of 224 billion won to Pyongyang shortly
before the inter-Korean summit in June 2000 between then South Korean President
Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. An independent counsel, named
by President Roh Moo-hyun to investigate the summit scandal, announced in June
2003 that Hyundai Group illegally sent $500 million to North Korea.

2004 -- Former President Kim Dae-jung is declared not guilty by the Seoul High
Court in a retrial of a 1980 case accusing him of treason.
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