1979 in South Korea

Events from the year 1979 in South Korea.

Incumbents

President: Park Chung Hee (until 26 October), Choi Kyu-hah (starting 6 December)
Prime Minister: Choi Kyu-hah (until 6 December), Shin Hyun-hwak (starting 12 December)

October 3 - Security chief Kim Jae-kyu meets democrat politician Kim Young-sam to discuss the country's future.
December 6 - 1979 South Korean presidential election, confirms former prime minister Choi Kyu-hah as the new president.
December 12 - Coup d'ÃÂ©tat of December Twelfth: Lieutenant General Chun Doo-hwan, commander of the Security Command, orders the arrest of General Jeong Seung-hwa, ROK Army Chief of Staff, on allegations of involvement in the assassination of President Park Chung Hee. A shoot-out at the Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense results in Chun and his fellow eleventh class military academy graduates such as Major General Roh Tae-woo and Major General Jeong Ho-yong taking control of the Korean military.