Events from the year 1953 in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

Incumbents

*President:

Rhee Syng-man Syngman Rhee (, ; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965) was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Ko ...

*Vice President:

Ham Tae-young Ham Tae-young, sometimes Hahm Tae Young, (October 22, 1873 – October 24, 1964) was a South Korean politician, pastor and leader of the Presbyterian Church of Korea. He was the third vice president of South Korea from 1952 to 1956. He was also a ...

*Prime Minister:

Paik Too-chin Paik Too-chin or Baek Du-jin (October 7, 1908 – September 5, 1993) was a South Korean politician. He was acting prime minister until confirmed in office by the National Assembly on April 24, 1953, when he became the 4th Prime Minister of South ...

(until 24 April),

(starting 24 April)

Events

* 9 January – According to South Korea's Coast Guard official confirmed report, a passenger ferry ''Changgyeong-ho'' capsized off the coast of

Busan Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...

, and 229 persons perished. * 1 August – Cheil Jedang (now

CJ CheilJedang CJ CheilJedang is a South Korean food company based in Seoul that manufactures food ingredients, ambient, frozen and chilled packaged food products, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Its brands include bibigo, Gourmet and Hatbahn. bibigo brand ...

), a food manufacturer, was founded. *

The Korea Herald ''The Korea Herald'' is a leading English-language daily newspaper founded in 1953 and published in Seoul, South Korea. The editorial staff is composed of Korean and international writers and editors, with additional news coverage drawn from int ...

newspaper was founded. * 1 October – The

Mutual Defense Treaty (United States–South Korea) Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea () is a treaty between South Korea and the United States signed on 1 October 1953, two months after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement which brought a halt to the ...

was signed,

Births

* 18 January - Chon Song-Cha. * 22 January - Myung-whun Chung, Korean conductor and pianist * 24 January -

Moon Jae-in Moon Jae-in (; ; born 24 January 1953) is a South Korean former politician, civil servant and lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea between 2017 and 2022. Prior to his presidency, he served as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs an ...

. * 29 January -

Hwang Woo-suk Hwang Woo-suk ( ko, 황우석, born January 29, 1953)Sources disagree on the birthdate due to confusion between different calendar systems. Hwang was born on January 29, 1953 in the Gregorian calendar. However, older Koreans often list their bir ...

. * 25 February - Kim Yeong-cheol, South Korean actor * 10 March -

Cho Hun-hyun Cho Hunhyun ( ko, 조훈현; born 10 March 1953) is a South Korean professional Go player and politician. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Cho reached professional level in Korea in 1962. Since then, Cho has amassed 150 profe ...

Go (game) Go is an abstract strategy board game for two players in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent. The game was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest board game continuously played ...

player. * 5 April -

Tae Jin-ah Jo Bang-heon (Hangul: 조방헌; born February 16, 1953), better known by his stage name, Tae Jin-ah (), is a South Korean trot singer and entertainer. He debuted in 1973 with the song, "My Heart Express Train," and rose to fame soon after wit ...

, South Korean singer * 22 May - Cha Bum-kun. * 28 May -

Moon Sung-keun Moon Sung-keun (born May 28, 1953) is a South Korean actor and politician. He has won three Blue Dragon Film Awards, two Baeksang Arts Awards, and two Chunsa Film Art Awards for Best Actor. Career Moon was born in Tokyo, Japan. His father was Re ...

, Korean actor * 27 July -

Chung Dong-young Chung Dong-young (born 27 July 1953 in Sunchang County, North Jeolla) is a politician and was the United New Democratic Party nominee for President of South Korea in 2007. From April 2004 until December 2005, Chung was the South Korean Minister ...

, Korean politician * 18 August -

Bae Cheol-soo Bae Cheol-soo (born August 18, 1953) is a South Korean radio host and former singer. His syndicated talk radio show '' Bae Cheol-soo's Music Camp'', airs via the MBC FM4U since 1990. Life Bae was born in 1953 in Gahoedong, Jongno district in Seou ...

, Korean musician and radio host * 28 October -

Park Yeong-gyu Park Yeong-gyu (born 28 October 1953) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Attack the Gas Station ''Attack the Gas Station!'' ( ko, 주유소 습격 사건) is a 1999 Korean crime-comedy film directed by Kim Sang-jin ...

, Korean actor * 13 December -

Dokgo Young-jae Dokgo Young-jae (born Jeon Young-jae on December 13, 1953) is a South Korean actor. He made his film debut in 1973, and also became active in the Dongrang Theatre Ensemble. Dokgo won Best Supporting Actor for '' White Badge'' at the Blue Dragon ...

, Korean actor

Death

* 17 April -

Yi Si-yeong Seongjae Yi Si-yeong (Chosŏn'gŭl: 이시영; Hanja: 李始榮, December 3, 1868 – April 19, 1953) was a Korean politician, independence activist, educator and neo-Confucianist scholar. He was the first vice president of South Korea from ...

, Korean independence activist

References

Years of the 20th century in South Korea 1950s in South Korea

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Incumbents

Events

Births

Death

See also

References