Today in Korean history

Dec. 4

1884 -- Kim Ok-kyun, Pak Yong-hyo and other young reformist officials, supported
by the Japanese government, briefly seize power in a coup, seeking to modernize
and open Korea's last kingdom, the Yi Dynasty. The new group believed Korea
should emulate Japan which institutionalized reforms in 1868 and transformed
itself into a modern society. The coup, however, proved to be short-lived when
the Chinese army intervened out of concern that the balance of power on the
Korean Peninsula was shifting decisively toward the Japanese.

1964 -- South Korea and West Germany sign an accord aimed at promoting economic
exchanges.

1979 -- A military court begins the trial of eight people, including former
intelligence chief Kim Jae-kyu, on charges of assassinating President Park
Chung-hee. Park was shot dead on Oct. 26, 1979, having held power for 19 years
following a military coup.

2003 -- The National Assembly overrides President Roh Moo-hyun's veto and passes
a bill for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate his former aides
on corruption charges.
The move by the opposition-controlled assembly came just nine days after Roh
vetoed the bill, saying that there was already an ongoing investigation by
prosecutors into the alleged irregularities.
(END)