Several notable things have happened recently in and around Korea, especially in early 2026, across politics, security, and regional diplomacy.

Quick Scoop: What happened in Korea?

  • Major legal fallout in South Korea from the 2024 martial-law crisis, with ex‑leaders sentenced to prison.
  • New military incidents and security tensions, including a deadly helicopter crash and raids linked to North Korea–related drone operations.
  • North Korea unveiling new rocket systems and signaling tougher military posture ahead of a key party congress.
  • A diplomatic reset mood, with South Korea’s President planning a high‑profile summit with China’s Xi Jinping.
  • Korea also being chosen as a host for a UN “Climate Week” in 2026, tying it into global climate diplomacy.

Below is a more detailed, story‑style breakdown.

South Korea: Politics and Trials

In early 2026, South Korea has been consumed by the long tail of its 2024 martial‑law crisis, with courts handing down heavy sentences to several former top officials.

Key points:

  1. Former President sentenced
    • Ex‑president Yoon Suk Yeol was convicted and given a five‑year prison term for abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and falsification of documents, all tied to the martial‑law scandal.
 * This reflects a broader pattern in South Korean politics where ex‑presidents are often prosecuted after leaving office, which keeps political tensions high.
  1. Ex–Prime Minister and ministers jailed
    • Former prime minister Han Duck‑soo received a 23‑year sentence over his role in the same crisis.
 * Former interior minister Lee Sang‑min was sentenced to seven years, deepening the sense that an entire leadership cohort is being held legally accountable.
  1. Former First Lady convicted
    • Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to 20 months in prison for accepting bribes from the Unification Church, highlighting ongoing public anger about corruption and opaque ties between politics and religious groups.

These cases together send a signal that the judiciary is trying to draw a hard line after the events of 2024, but they also risk polarizing the country further between different political camps.

Security incidents and tensions

Recent weeks also saw several serious security‑related developments that have kept “what happened in Korea” in the headlines.

  1. Military accidents inside South Korea
    • On 2 January, a South Korean Air Force T‑50 trainer jet overturned during an emergency landing at Gwangju Air Base; both pilots survived.
 * On 9 February, an AH‑1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed in Gapyeong County, killing both crew members and raising questions about aircraft maintenance and training.
  1. Raids over North Korea–linked drone activity
    • On 10 February, South Korean authorities raided the National Intelligence Service and the Korea Defense Intelligence Command in investigations tied to drone flights involving North Korea.
 * These raids suggest internal scrutiny of how security agencies handled drone incursions and surveillance around the border.
  1. North Korea’s new rocket launchers
    • North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently showcased around 50 new, nuclear‑capable multiple rocket launchers, praising them as “wonderful” and “attractive” weapons.
 * This came ahead of a once‑every‑five‑years party congress, signaling that Pyongyang wants to project strength and deterrence both externally and to its own elite.
  1. Harsh rhetoric and border concerns
    • Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, acknowledged an apology from a South Korean minister over alleged civilian drone incidents but said the North was tightening border security against the “enemy.”
 * Analysts note that Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, is increasingly presented as a likely successor, suggesting that nuclear buildup and confrontation may be baked into Pyongyang’s long‑term plans.

Diplomacy: Seoul, Beijing, and the region

Amid all this, there are signs of a diplomatic reset as Seoul recalibrates its position between major powers.

  • Chinese President Xi Jinping invited South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung to Beijing for a second summit within just a couple of months, an unusually quick follow‑up.
  • The agenda includes supply chains, tourism, crime, and, crucially, how to manage tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
  • Lee’s government has framed its approach as “practical diplomacy”: trying to restore warmer ties with China while maintaining strong alliances with the United States and cooperation with Japan.

This matters because South Korea sits at the junction of multiple flashpoints: North Korea’s nuclear program, US–China rivalry, and emerging crises around Taiwan and regional security architectures.

Society, climate, and global stage

Beyond politics and security, Korea is also appearing in global conversations on climate and broader issues.

  • South Korea is set to host one of the UN’s 2026 Climate Weeks, bringing together governments and businesses to connect “real‑economy” climate action with international climate negotiations.
  • Domestically, South Korea continues to grapple with social issues such as gender‑based violence and digital abuse, including “deepfake” exploitation, which rights groups have described as a national‑level emergency in recent years.
  • High‑profile domestic incidents, such as the large fire in Guryong Village in Seoul’s Gangnam district in January, have also fueled discussions about inequality, housing, and urban safety.

Mini timeline: early 2026 in Korea

  1. 2 Jan – T‑50 jet emergency landing accident, no fatalities.
  1. Mid‑Jan – Former president, prime minister, and other officials sentenced over the 2024 martial‑law crisis.
  1. 28 Jan – Former first lady convicted in a bribery case tied to the Unification Church.
  1. Early Feb – Deadly Cobra helicopter crash; raids on key intelligence agencies over drone issues.
  1. Mid‑Feb – North Korea unveils 50 new rocket launchers; Kim Yo Jong issues warnings as a party congress approaches.
  1. 2026 – UN announces a Climate Week to be held in the Republic of Korea.

TL;DR: When people ask “what happened in Korea” right now, they’re usually referring to the convergence of: harsh sentences for ex‑leaders in South Korea, fresh military accidents and drone‑related investigations, North Korea’s showy new rocket systems and succession signals, and renewed big‑power diplomacy around Seoul, especially with China.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.