Jan–Feb 2021 – Ten public‑opinion surveys are conducted for Seoul Mayor Oh Se‑hoon’s campaign ahead of the April 2021 mayoral election, later becoming the subject of a proxy‑payment scandal [5].

Feb–Mar 2021 – A supporter transfers 33 million won in five installments to an employee of Future Korea Research Institute, a polling firm run by power broker Myung Tae‑kyun, to pay for the ten surveys [5].

Mar 2022 – Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol wins the presidential election; the indictment later alleges he receives 58 free polls valued at 270 million won between April 2021 and March 2022 [1].

June 2022 – Parliamentary by‑elections take place; prosecutors later suspect the free polls were exchanged for Yoon’s assistance in securing candidate nominations for these elections [1].

June 2025 – A data breach at e‑commerce giant Coupang exposes personal information of about 34 million customers; police later trace the IP address used in the attack [6].

Oct 2025 – Two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine write a letter, delivered via a documentary producer, asking to defect to South Korea [2].

Nov 2025 – South Korea’s exports rise 8.4 % year‑on‑year to US$61 billion, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth [6].

Dec 1 2025 – Special counsel Min Joong‑ki indicts Seoul Mayor Oh Se‑hoon, former deputy mayor Kang Cheol‑won and businessman Kim Han‑jung for violating the Political Funds Act by arranging the 33 million‑won proxy payment for the 2021 opinion polls; Oh publicly denies commissioning or receiving the surveys [5].

Dec 1 2025 – The Democratic Party and People Power Party begin last‑minute negotiations on the 2026 budget (₩728 trillion) ahead of the legal deadline, focusing on local gift‑certificate funding, policy funds and presidential office expenses [6].

Dec 9 2025 – The Seoul Central District Court sets a preparatory hearing for Mayor Oh’s trial on Dec 23, signalling the case will move to full trial later in the month [4].

Dec 24 2025 – Special counsel indicts former President Yoon Suk‑yeol and Myung Tae‑kyun for receiving 58 free opinion polls worth 270 million won, accusing them of violating the Political Funds Act [2].

Dec 24 2025 – The National Assembly passes a revised Information and Communications Network Act, tightening rules against misinformation after a prolonged filibuster [2].

Dec 24 2025 – The presidential office announces it will be formally renamed “Cheong Wa Dae” and relocated to a historic compound, with the flag lowered at the current site and raised at the new location [2].

Dec 24 2025 – The Korean won rebounds after authorities verbally intervene to curb excessive currency weakness, closing near 1,449.8 per dollar [2].

Jan 27 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court announces that the first formal trial in the Yoon opinion‑poll case will open on Mar 17 2026 and continue at weekly intervals; it also schedules a verdict for Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon‑hee, on Jan 28 2026 [1].

Mar 17 2026 – The first trial of former President Yoon Suk‑yeol begins, marking the start of weekly hearings into the alleged quid‑pro‑quo over free opinion polls [1].