Historical figures in Seoul

The atlas holds 26 people and 69 moments here, from 1397 to 2019. The most recorded lives are Yun Hyon-seok, Sung Jae-gi and Sejong the Great. Among them Political Leaders, Writers and Business Leaders, across the Space Age and the Cold War.

Notable people

  1. Abebe Bikila

    in 1966

    1 moment here

    Ethiopian marathon runner and Imperial Guard officer who won Olympic marathon gold in Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964, both in world-record time.…

  2. Bingu wa Mutharika

    in 2010

    1 moment here

    Malawian economist and politician who served as Malawi's third president from 2004 until his death in office in 2012.…

  3. Dwight D. Eisenhower

    in 1952

    1 moment here

    Dwight D. Eisenhower was a United States Army officer, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II, and the 34th president of the United…

  4. George H. W. Bush

    from 1989 to 1992

    2 moments here

    George Herbert Walker Bush was an American naval aviator, oil executive, congressman, diplomat, director of central intelligence, vice president, and…

  5. Gerald Ford

    in 1974

    1 moment here

    Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 after having served as…

  6. Helen Keller

    in 1937

    1 moment here

    Helen Adams Keller was an American deafblind author, lecturer, disability-rights advocate, and political activist.…

  7. Hugo Chávez

    in 1999

    1 moment here

    Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was a Venezuelan army officer and politician who led the failed February 1992 coup attempt, became president of Venezuela in…

  8. Islam Karimov

    in 2010

    1 moment here

    Uzbek political leader who became first secretary of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan in 1989 and served as Uzbekistan’s first president from…

  9. Jack London

    in 1904

    1 moment here

    American novelist, journalist, sailor, war correspondent, and socialist activist. Born John Griffith Chaney in San Francisco, he grew up around the…

  10. Jiang Zemin

    in 1995

    1 moment here

    Jiang Zemin was a Chinese electrical engineer and politician who served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002,…

  11. Jimmy Carter

    in 1979

    1 moment here

    James Earl Carter Jr. was an American naval officer, Georgia state senator and governor, the 39th president of the United States, and a…

  12. Kim Dae-jung

    from 1950 to 2009

    6 moments here

    South Korean politician, democracy activist, and eighth president of South Korea (1998–2003).…

  13. Maryam Mirzakhani

    in 2014

    1 moment here

    Iranian mathematician whose work transformed the study of hyperbolic surfaces, moduli spaces, and dynamics.…

  14. Michael Jackson

    in 1999

    1 moment here

    American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist whose career began with the Jackson 5 and developed into global solo stardom.…

  15. Nguyễn Văn Thiệu

    in 1969

    1 moment here

    South Vietnamese army officer and politician who led South Vietnam as chairman of the National Leadership Committee from 1965 and as president from…

  16. Park Chung Hee

    from 1961 to 1979

    3 moments here

    Park Chung-hee was a South Korean army officer and politician who led the May 16 coup in 1961 and served as president from 1963 until his…

  17. Roh Moo-hyun

    from 2003 to 2009

    2 moments here

    South Korean attorney, human-rights advocate, politician, and president of the Republic of Korea from 2003 to 2008.…

  18. Ronald Reagan

    in 1983

    1 moment here

    American broadcaster, actor, labor leader, governor of California, and 40th president of the United States.…

  19. Sebastián Piñera

    from 2012 to 2019

    2 moments here

    Chilean economist, businessman and politician who served as president of Chile from 2010 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2022.…

  20. Sejong the Great

    from 1397 to 1450

    8 moments here

    Yi Do, posthumously Sejong the Great, was the fourth monarch of Joseon. Born in Hanyang, he became king in 1418 and ruled until 1450.…

  21. Shinzo Abe

    from 2006 to 2015

    2 moments here

    Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020.…

  22. Sung Jae-gi

    from 1999 to 2013

    9 moments here

    South Korean men's-rights activist and founder of Man of Korea. His documented life includes education and military service in the Daegu–Gyeongsan…

  23. Syngman Rhee

    from 1877 to 1960

    5 moments here

    Syngman Rhee was a Korean independence activist and the first president of the Republic of Korea, serving from 1948 until his resignation in 1960.…

  24. Yun Ch'iho

    from 1873 to 1941

    4 moments here

    Korean politician, reformer, educator, Christian leader, diarist, and later Japanese colonial collaborator.…

Moments

  1. 1397 Birth in Chunsubang Sejong the Great
  2. 1418 Accession at Geunjeongjeon Sejong the Great
  3. 1424 Military archery display at Gyeonghoeru Sejong the Great
  4. 1426 Falconry in the eastern suburb Sejong the Great
  5. 1426 Falconry journey via Noryang Sejong the Great
  6. 1427 Reception of Ming envoys at Gyeongbokgung Sejong the Great
  7. 1430 Falconry at Salgoji Sejong the Great
  8. 1450 Death in the East Palace Sejong the Great
  9. 1873 Traditional schooling after move to Seoul Yun Ch'iho
  10. 1877 Family relocation to Seoul Syngman Rhee
  11. 1899 Imprisonment at Gyeongmucheong Prison Syngman Rhee
  12. 1904 Return to Seoul after border arrest Jack London
  13. 1937 Journey through Korea Helen Keller
  14. 1938 Ceremony at Chōsen Shrine Yun Ch'iho
  15. 1941 Bond selling in Jongno Yun Ch'iho
  16. 1941 Lecture at Gyeongseong Bumingwan Yun Ch'iho
  17. 1945 Return to Seoul Syngman Rhee
  18. 1948 Inauguration of the Republic of Korea Syngman Rhee
  19. 1950 Business trip during the fall of Seoul Kim Dae-jung
  20. 1952 President-elect visit to Korea Dwight D. Eisenhower
  21. 1960 Final month at Ihwajang Syngman Rhee
  22. 1961 Residence in Seoul after detention Kim Dae-jung
  23. 1961 May 16 coup Park Chung Hee
  24. 1966 Incheon–Seoul Marathon victory Abebe Bikila
  25. 1969 State visit to Seoul Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
  26. 1970 Presidential-policy press conference Kim Dae-jung
  27. 1971 Campaign speech at Jangchungdan Park Kim Dae-jung
  28. 1974 Meeting with Park Chung Hee Gerald Ford
  29. 1974 Meeting with President Ford Park Chung Hee
  30. 1979 Seoul state visit Jimmy Carter
  31. 1979 Assassination in Gungjeong-dong Park Chung Hee
  32. 1983 Visits Seoul Ronald Reagan
  33. 1985 Return through Gimpo International Airport Kim Dae-jung
  34. 1989 Address to South Korean National Assembly George H. W. Bush
  35. 1992 Second presidential visit to Seoul George H. W. Bush
  36. 1995 Speech at South Korean National Assembly Jiang Zemin
  37. 1999 Performs MJ & Friends in Seoul Michael Jackson
  38. 1999 First Venezuelan presidential visit to South Korea Hugo Chávez
  39. 1999 Constitutional Court visit Sung Jae-gi
  40. 1999 Protest at Seoul City Hall Square Sung Jae-gi
  41. 2002 LGBT gathering in Mapo Yun Hyon-seok
  42. 2002 LGBT gathering in Yeongdeungpo Yun Hyon-seok
  43. 2002 LGBT-rights activity in Dongdaemun Yun Hyon-seok
  44. 2002 Visit to Myeongdong Cathedral Yun Hyon-seok
  45. 2002 Move to Dongdaemun District Yun Hyon-seok
  46. 2003 Work at a gay bar in Gangnam Yun Hyon-seok
  47. 2003 Presidential inauguration Roh Moo-hyun
  48. 2003 Disability-rights assembly at Jongmyo Park Yun Hyon-seok
  49. 2003 Disability-rights rally at Hyehwa Rotary Yun Hyon-seok
  50. 2003 Death at the LGBT-rights office Yun Hyon-seok

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