2026 in South Korea
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| See also: | Other events of 2026 Years in South Korea Timeline of Korean history 2026 in North Korea | ||||
Scheduled events in 2026 in South Korea.
Incumbents
| Office | Image | Name | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
 President of the Republic of Korea |
 |
Lee Jae-myung | 4 June 2025–present |
 Speaker of the National Assembly |
 |
Woo Won-shik | 5 June 2024–29 May 2026 |
.jpg) |
Cho Jeong-sik | 5 June 2026–present | |
 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court |
 |
Cho Hee-dae | 8 December 2023–present |
 President of the Constitutional Court |
.png) |
Kim Sanghwan | 24 July 2025–present |
 Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea |
 |
Kim Min-seok | 3 July 2025–30 June 2026 |
 |
Han Seong-sook | 30 June 2026–present | |
Events
January
- 2 January – A KAI T-50 Golden Eagle of the Republic of Korea Air Force overturns during an emergency landing at Gwangju Air Base in Gwangju. Both pilots are unharmed.[1]
- 16 January –
- Former president Yoon Suk Yeol is convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment on charges of abuse of power, obstruction of justice and falsification of documents in one of four trials relating to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis.[2]
- A massive fire breaks out at Guryong Village in Gangnam, Seoul.[3]
- 21 January – Former prime minister Han Duck-soo is convicted and sentenced to 23 years' imprisonment on charges relating to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis.[4]
- 28 January – Former first lady Kim Keon Hee is convicted and sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment on charges of accepting bribes from the Unification Church.[5]
February
- 9 February – An AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter of the Republic of Korea Army crashes in Gapyeong County, killing its two crew.[6]
- 10 February – Authorities carry out raids on the National Intelligence Service and the Korea Defense Intelligence Command as part of investigations into drone flights carried out into North Korea.[7]
- 12 February – Former interior minister Lee Sang-min is convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on charges relating to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis.[8]
- 19 February – Former president Yoon Suk Yeol is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for insurrection relating to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis.[9]
- 25 February – An F-16 fighter jet of the Republic of Korea Air Force crashes near Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The pilot safely ejects.[10]
- 26 February – A Truth and Reconciliation Commission is convened to investigate anomalies in the international adoption of South Korean children.[11]
March
- 5 March – President Lee orders the activation of a ₩100 trillion (about US$68 billion) stabilization fund to address volatility in the country's financial markets linked to the 2026 Iran war.[12]
- 13 March — Police raid the headquarters of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in Sejong City as part of a renewed investigation into the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in 2024.[13]
- 16 March – A child is injured after being hit at a playground by a stray bullet suspected to have been fired during nearby military exercises in Daegu.[14]
- 20 March – Fourteen people are killed in a fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon.[15]
April
- 28 April – The Seoul High Court extends former first lady Kim Keon Hee's prison term for corruption from 20 months to four years.[16]
- 29 April – The Seoul High Court sentences former president Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years' imprisonment on charges related to the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis.[17]
May
- 17 May – North Korean team Naegohyang Women's FC arrive in Incheon to compete at the AFC Women's Champions League in Suwon, the first time a North Korean sports team has been sent to the South since 2018.[18]
- 20 May – North Korean team Naegohyang Women's FC defeats South Korean side Suwon FC Women at the semifinals of the AFC Women's Champions League in Suwon.[19]
- 23 May – Naegohyang Women's FC wins the 2025–26 AFC Women's Champions League after defeating Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1–0 at the final in Suwon.[20]
- 26 May – An overpass demolition site in Seodaemun District, Seoul, collapses, killing three people and injuring three others.[21]
June
- 1 June – An explosion hits a factory operated by Hanwha Aerospace in Daejeon, killing five people.[22]
- 3 June –
- 5 June – Public assemblies and citizen gatherings continue following the shortage of ballots in local elections, primarily centered around the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Jamsil-dong, Seoul.[24]
- 10 June – The PIPC issues a 624.6 billion won ($400 million) fine on Coupang over a 2025 data breach that exposed around 37.5 million users.[25]
- 11 June–19 July – South Korea participates at the participates at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- 12 June – Former president Yoon Suk Yeol is sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment for sending drones into North Korea as part of efforts to stage provocations to justify the imposition of martial law in 2024.[26]
- 22 June – Former justice minister Park Sung-jae is sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment for his role in abetting the imposition of martial law in 2024.[27]
- 24 June – Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, is arrested on charges of electoral interference over the recruitment of thousands of followers into the People Power Party.[28]
- 30 June – Kim Min-seok resigns as prime minister and is replaced by Han Seong-sook.[29]
July
- 1 July – The Ministry of Science and ICT officially launches the state-run artificial intelligence company "K-AGI" to boost national competitiveness in the AI sector.[30]
- 7 July – The Supreme Court upholds the 7-year prison sentence and 5-year suspended sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was convicted on charges of inciting insurrection and interfering with official duties by ordering his security service to block the execution of a court warrant.[31]
- 13 July – The National Assembly passes a bill to abolish the Ministry of Unification, transferring its functions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments, in line with the current administration's realignment of inter-Korean policy.[32]
- 18 July – The first vehicle rolls off the production line at the newly built KGM Commercial electric truck plant in Gunsan.[33]
- 19–29 July – 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan.[34]
- 23 July – A special investigation team consisting of police and prosecutors raids the headquarters and branches of the National Election Commission over allegations that some employees manipulated data to cover up errors in the voter turnout count from the June 3 local elections.[35]
- 25 July – The getbol tidal flats are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[36]
- 29 July – The Korea Aerospace Research Institute announces the successful test flight of the first domestically developed high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle capable of operating at altitudes exceeding 12 kilometers for more than 24 hours.[37]
- 29 July – Busan records its highest-ever temperature of 38.8 °C (101.8 °F). The heatwave results in at least nine heat-related deaths across the country since May.[38]
August
- 10 August – Two former Chinese military officers are arrested in separate incidents on suspicion of spying.[39]
- 17 August –
- US President Donald Trump orders the Pentagon to reduce annual joint military exercises with South Korea, saying that the latter refused to help with the 2026 Iran war and citing his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.[40]
- One person is killed in a landslide in Geoje.[41]
Predicted and scheduled events
Holidays
As per Presidential Decree No. 28394, 2017. 10. 17., partially amended, the following days are declared holidays in South Korea:[44][45]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 16 – 18 February – Korean New Year
- 1 March – March First Movement
- 5 May – Children's Day
- 24 May – Buddha's Birthday
- 6 June – Memorial Day
- 15 August – National Liberation Day of Korea
- 24 – 27 September – Chuseok
- 3 October – National Foundation Day
- 9 October – Hangul Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
Art and entertainment
Deaths
- 1 January – Jeon Jun-ho, 50, baseball player (Hyundai Unicorns, Woori Heroes, SK Wyverns).[46]
- 4 January – Kim Young-in, 85, actor (Dachimawa Lee, No Blood No Tears, Arahan).[47]
- 5 January – Ahn Sung-ki, 74, actor (Silmido, Two Cops, Radio Star).[48]
- 11 January – Park Soon-yong, 81, lawyer, prosecutor general (1999–2001).[49]
- 14 January – Kim min-jae, 53, baseball player.[50]
- 20 January – Li Chang-Su, 58, North Korean-born judoka and defector to South Korea.[51]
- 25 January –
- Lee Hae-chan, 73, prime minister (2004–2006), minister of education (1998–1999) and MNA (1988–2020).[52]
- Gong Ro-myung, 93, diplomat and politician, minister of foreign affairs (1994–1996).[53]
- 8 February – Jung Jin-woo, 88, film director (Oyster Village, Adultery Tree) and producer (Woman of Fire).[54]
- 11 February – Jung Eun-woo, 39, actor (Five Fingers, One Well-Raised Daughter, The Return of Hwang Geum-bok).[55]
- 10 March – Kim Yong-chae, 94, politician, mayor of Nowon District (1996–1998).[56]
- 5 May – Lee Hong-koo, 91, prime minister (1994–1995) and ambassador to the United States (1998–2000).[57]
References
- ↑ "Air Force T-50 trainer jet overturns after emergency landing". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ↑ "S Korea's ex-president Yoon to be jailed for five years over martial law bid". BBC. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "S Korean firefighters tackle huge blaze in last of Seoul's 'shanty towns'". Al Jazeera. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "S Korea's former PM found guilty of insurrection, given 23 years in prison". Al Jazeera. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "South Korea's ex-first lady jailed for 20 months for bribery". BBC. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ "South Korean military helicopter crashes during training, killing two". Reuters. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ↑ "Investigators Raid NIS, Military Intel Command in Surveillance Drone Probe". KBS. 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "South Korea's former interior minister gets 7-year sentence for aiding martial law". AP News. 12 February 2026.
- ↑ "South Korea court sentences ex-president Yoon to life in prison for 2024 insurrection". France 24. 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "Yeongju jet crash causes hillside fire, residents evacuated". Korea JoongAng Daily. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ↑ "South Korea relaunches truth commission with focus on adoption fraud". AP News. 28 February 2026.
- ↑ "South Korea activates $68 bn market stability fund over Mideast crisis". The Economic Times. 5 March 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ↑ Guinto, Joel (13 March 2026). "South Korea police raid transport ministry over Jeju Air crash". BBC. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ "Suspected stray bullet from military drill hits girl at playground". BBC. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ↑ Ferguson, Donna (21 March 2026). "At least 14 people killed in fire at South Korean car parts factory". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "South Korean court extends prison sentence for wife of ousted president". AP News. 28 April 2026. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "South Korean court sentences ex-President Yoon to 7 years for charges including resisting arrest". AP News. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ "North Korean women's soccer team arrives in South Korea for regional tournament". AP News. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ "North Korean soccer team beats South Korean hosts in rare match between divided countries". AP News. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "President Lee Jae Myung Congratulates North Korean Champions". The Chosun Daily. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ "3 dead, 3 injured as Seoul overpass collapses under demolition". The Korea Times. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Explosion and fire at defense company in South Korea kills 5". AP News. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Exit polls suggest landslide win by South Korea's ruling liberal party in local elections". AP News. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "투표용지 부족 사태 종합보도" (in Korean). Yonhap News. 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Korea fines e-commerce giant $400m over data breach affecting millions". BBC. 11 June 2026.
- ↑ "Jailed South Korea ex-president gets 30 more years for sending drones into North". BBC. 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Former South Korean justice minister gets 25-year prison term for role in martial law declaration". AP News. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ "Leader of secretive South Korean church arrested on suspicion of election influence". AP News. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ "Kim leaves office as prime minister". The Korea Times. 1 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "韩国正式成立"K-AGI"国家人工智能公司". Digital Today. 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "韩国大法院判决尹锡悦有期徒刑7年，律师资格被吊销". Hankook Ilbo. 7 July 2026.
- ↑ "통일부 폐지 법안 국회 본회의 통과". YTN. 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "KG모빌리티, 군산 전기트럭 공장 준공…'군산 경제 살리기' 시동". MK News. 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Sa Pessoa, Gabriela (28 July 2026). "UNESCO adds Brazil's Amazonia theaters to the World Heritage List". AP News. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ "韩媒：因选票短缺问题，韩国选举机构遭突击搜查". People's Daily Korea. 24 July 2026.
- ↑ Kim, Tong-hyung (26 July 2026). "Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp among new additions to join UNESCO's World Heritage List". AP News. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
- ↑ "국내 첫 장기체공 무인기 'K-UAV' 시험비행 성공". ET News. 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "高温炙烤韩国 釜山破122年来最高气温纪录". Xinhua News. 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Kim, Hyung-jun (11 August 2026). "2 ex-Chinese military personnel arrested in South Korea for alleged espionage". AP News. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Trump tells Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea, citing anger over Iran war". The Times of Israel. Associated Press. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "Record rains drench South Korean city as landslide kills one". BBC. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "Expo 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea: A Special Encounter". Yeosu. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Yeosu World Island Expo marks one year to go with citizen and islander support". Korea Post. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "National Holidays in South Korea in 2026". Office Holidays. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "South Korea Public Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "Hyundai Dynasty's 2006 Win Rate King Jeon Joon-ho Dies". Chosun.com.
- ↑ "Deaths in 2026", Wikipedia, 2 February 2026, retrieved 2 February 2026
- ↑ Shin, Jeong-sun (5 January 2026). "South Korean Film Legend Ahn Sung-ki Dies at 75". The Chosun Daily. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ Park, Jae-hyun (12 January 2026). "[부고] 박순용(전 검찰총장)씨 별세". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ Yang, Seung-su (15 January 2026). "Former National Team Shortstop Kim Min-jae Passes Away". The Chosun Daily. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "North Korean Judo Defector Lee Chang-soo Dies". The Chosun Daily. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ↑ "Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan Passes Away at 74". The Chosun. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ↑ "공로명 전 외교부 장관 별세…향년 94세". TV Chosun (in Korean). 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ↑ "Veteran film director Jeong Jin Woo passes away at 88". allkpop. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ↑ "South Korean actor Jung Eun Woo passes away". GMA News. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "JP가 신뢰한 원내총무…김용채 전 건설교통부 장관 별세" (in Korean). 10 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Ex-PM Lee Hong-koo dies at 91". The Korea Times. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
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