Economic transformation: chaebol expansion and Korea's tech boom (1960s–2020s)

1. First Five-Year Plan launches export-led growth

   Jan 1, 1962Labels: First Five-Year, South Korea

   • Britannica
   • KDI

2. KOTRA established to promote trade

   Jun 21, 1962Labels: KOTRA, South Korea

   • KOTRA
   • KOTRA History

3. KIST founded to build national R&D capacity

   Feb 10, 1966Labels: KIST, R&D institute

   • KIST
   • KIST History

4. Hyundai Motor Company is founded

   Dec 29, 1967Labels: Hyundai Motor, Chaebol

   • Hyundai Motor
   • Hyundai Heritage

5. POSCO established to anchor heavy industry

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: POSCO, Heavy industry

   • POSCO
   • POSCO Newsroom

6. Samsung Electronics founded in Suwon

   Jan 13, 1969Labels: Samsung Electronics, Suwon

   • Samsung History
   • Samsung Electronics

7. POSCO begins building Pohang steelworks

   Apr 1, 1970Labels: Pohang steelworks, POSCO

   • POSCO

8. KAIS (later KAIST) is established

   Feb 16, 1971Labels: KAIS, KAIST

   • KAIST

9. POSCO Pohang plant is dedicated

   Jul 3, 1973Labels: Pohang plant, POSCO

   • POSCO

10. CDMA commercialization enables mobile-tech leap

    Jan 1, 1996Labels: CDMA, Telecommunications

    • ETRI

11. KOSDAQ begins trading for growth firms

    Jul 1, 1996Labels: KOSDAQ, Stock market

    • KOSDAQ
    • Korea Times

12. South Korea joins the OECD

    Dec 12, 1996Labels: OECD membership, South Korea

    • OECD
    • UPI

13. IMF bailout agreement amid Asian financial crisis

    Dec 3, 1997Labels: IMF bailout, Asian Financial

    • IMF Agreement

14. Naver is founded as domestic internet champion

    Jun 2, 1999Labels: Naver, Internet portal

    • Naver
    • Chosun

15. Incheon Free Economic Zone is designated

    Aug 11, 2003Labels: Incheon FEZ, Songdo

    • KFEZ
    • IFEZ