Foreign relations of South Korea
On January 18, 1952 The first president of South Korea Syngman Rhee declared that the vicinity of Dokdo was a territory of South Korea (Syngman Rhee line). Subsequently, some 3,000 Japanese fishermen who conducted fishery operations in this vicinity were captured. This incident, called the Dai Ichi Daihoumaru Ship case strained relations between South Korea and Japan.
1997 South Korean presidential election
Presidential elections were held in South Korea on 19 December 1997. The result was a victory for opposition candidate Kim Dae-jung, ending almost 36 years of conservative rule. When he took office in 1998, it also marked the first time in Korean history that an incumbent government peacefully surrendered power to the opposition.