1979    Coup d'état of December Twelfth: South Korean Army Major General Chun Doo-hwan orders the arrest of Army Chief of Staff General Jeong Seung-hwa without authorization from President Choi Kyu-ha, alleging involvement in the assassination of ex-President Park Chung Hee.

1980    General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations.

1980    Major General Chun Doo-hwan becomes president of South Korea, following the resignation of Choi Kyu-hah.

1983    Rangoon bombing: attempted assassination of South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan during an official visit to Rangoon, Burma. Chun survives but the blast kills 17 of his entourage, including four cabinet ministers, and injures 17 others. Four Burmese officials also die in the blast.