South Korea's Chaebol Growth, Regulation, and Reform (1960s-2005)

1. Park seizes power and prioritizes rapid growth

   May 16, 1961Labels: Park Chung-hee, Military coup, State-led development

   • Britannica
   • May 16 coup

2. Economic Planning Board created to run plans

   Jun 1, 1961Labels: Economic Planning, Government agency

   • KDI JEP
   • MOEF SK

3. First Five-Year Plan launches export-led strategy

   Jan 1, 1962Labels: Five-Year Plan, Export-led strategy

   • KRIHS Library
   • Five Year Plans

4. Ulsan designated industrial zone for heavy industry

   Jan 1, 1962Labels: Ulsan, Industrial zone

   • Park Chung hee
   • Five Year Plans

5. Heavy and Chemical Industry Drive deepens chaebol role

   Jan 1, 1973Labels: Heavy-Chemical Industry, Chaebol expansion

   • HCI Drive
   • Park Chung hee

6. Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act enacted

   Dec 31, 1980Labels: Monopoly Regulation, Competition law

   • WIPO MRFTA
   • KFTC overview

7. Korea Fair Trade Commission begins enforcement work

   Apr 1, 1981Labels: Korea Fair, Regulatory agency

   • KFTC overview
   • Asia Economy

8. Foreign-exchange crisis triggers IMF rescue package

   Dec 3, 1997Labels: 1997 Asian, IMF Stand-By

   • IMF Seminar
   • Hoover

9. Government-chaebol “Big Deals” restructuring agreements

   Dec 15, 1998Labels: Big Deals, Restructuring agreements

   • FSC Release
   • IMF LOI 1999

10. Daewoo collapses, signaling limits of state support

    Aug 19, 1999Labels: Daewoo, Corporate collapse

    • Daewoo scandal
    • IMF Seminar

11. IMF program ends as Korea repays early

    Dec 4, 2000Labels: IMF repayment, Post-crisis reform

    • IMF Seminar
    • KDI JEP

12. Credit-card boom and bust shifts focus to household risk

    Dec 31, 2003Labels: Credit-card crisis, Household risk

    • PBS Frontline
    • JoongAng Daily

13. Chaebol regulation evolves via MRFTA updates by 2004

    Dec 31, 2004Labels: MRFTA reforms, Ownership rules

    • WIPO MRFTA updated
    • KFTC overview

14. Mid-2000s reforms consolidate post-crisis governance model

    Dec 31, 2005Labels: Governance reforms, Post-crisis model

    • Asia Economy
    • IMF Seminar