South Korea's state-led industrialization and chaebol expansion (1961–1990)

1. Park’s May 16 coup begins a developmental state

   May 16, 1961Labels: Park Chung-hee, Economic Planning, May 16

   • Britannica

2. First Five-Year Development Plan goes into operation

   Jan 1, 1962Labels: Five-Year Plan, Economic Planning

   • KDevelopedia
   • Plans
   • EPB record

3. Korea Trade Promotion Agency is created

   Jun 21, 1962Labels: KOTRA, export promotion

   • KOTRA
   • KOTRA wiki

4. Park wins election and consolidates long-term rule

   Dec 17, 1963Labels: Park Chung-hee, presidency

   • SCNR
   • Britannica

5. KIST founded to support technology and industrial upgrading

   Feb 10, 1966Labels: KIST, technology institute

   • KIST
   • KIST wiki

6. POSCO created to build an integrated steel industry

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: POSCO, steel industry

   • POSCO

7. Pohang steelworks construction begins at POSCO

   Apr 1, 1970Labels: Pohang Steelworks, POSCO

   • POSCO

8. Saemaul Undong launched to modernize rural areas

   Apr 22, 1970Labels: Saemaul Undong, rural modernization

   • Saemaul

9. Hyundai Heavy Industries established in Ulsan

   Mar 1, 1972Labels: Hyundai Heavy, Ulsan shipyard

   • Hyundai GS

10. October Yushin regime strengthens executive control

    Oct 1, 1972Labels: Yushin Regime, Park Chung-hee

    • Yushin
    • Britannica

11. Heavy and chemical industry push reshapes investment priorities

    Jan 1, 1973Labels: Heavy &, development finance

    • KDB
    • Plans

12. POSCO Pohang plant is dedicated and begins output

    Jul 3, 1973Labels: POSCO Pohang, steel output

    • POSCO

13. Park’s assassination opens a new political phase

    Oct 26, 1979Labels: Park assassination, KCIA

    • Britannica
    • Park assassination

14. Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act is enacted

    Dec 31, 1980Labels: MRFTA, competition law

    • WIPO Lex
    • KFTC

15. Korea Fair Trade Commission established within EPB

    Jan 1, 1981Labels: KFTC, Economic Planning

    • KFTC

16. Fifth Five-Year Plan pivots toward technology-intensive industries

    Jan 1, 1982Labels: Fifth Five-Year, technology push

    • Plans

17. Sixth Five-Year Plan deepens liberalization pressures on industry

    Jan 1, 1987Labels: Sixth Five-Year, liberalization

    • Plans
    • KRIHS

18. Seoul Olympics showcase industrial capacity and global integration

    Sep 17, 1988Labels: Seoul Olympics, infrastructure

    • LA Times
    • Seoul Gov

19. Timeline closes as policy shifts beyond classic state-led industrialization

    Jan 1, 1990Labels: post-1990 shift, competition policy

    • WIPO Lex
    • KFTC
    • Plans