Date

Political Period in Korea

Significant Events

Events in the Life of Ham Sokhon

1901

Choson Dynasty

Born in north Korea

1904 

-

Russo-Japanese War

1906

-

Entered a Christian mission school

1910

Japan

Japan Annexed Korea

1916

-

Entered P'yongyang State High School

1917

-

Married by an arrangement

1919

-

The March 1st Movement

Joined the March 1st Movement

1921

-

Entered Osan High School

Met Yi Sunghun and Yu Yongmo

1923

-

The Tokyo Earthquake

Went to Tokyo to study

Imprisoned by Japanese

1924

-

Heyday of socialism, Communism and anarchism in Japan

Entered Tokyo Teachers' College

Attended Uchimura Kanzo's Non-Church Movement Meetings

1927

-

Kim Kyosin established the Bible Korea

1928

-

Returned to Korea  

Became a history teacher at Osan School

1930

-

Imprisoned by Japanese

1931

-

Japan invaded Manchuria

1933

-

Began to write a Korean History in  the Bible Korea

1938

-

Outbreak of  Sino-Japanese War

Forced to Resign from Osan School

Ran a Farming School

1940

-

World War II underway

Imprisoned for a year

Father died

1942

-

Imprisoned again for a year

1945

America in south & Soviet in north Korea

The End of W.W.II.

Korea Liberated from Japan

Appointed as Head of Education in P'yongan province  

Imprisoned by Soviet army

1946

-

Imprisoned by Soviet again

1947

-

Yo Unhyong and Chang Toksu assassinated

Forced to flee to south Korea

1948

Syngman Rhee in south & Kim Ilsung in north

Establishment of ROK in South & DPRK in North

Began to hold Biblical study meetings for the public

1950

-

Start of Korean War

Continued Biblical study meetings

1953

-

End of Korean War

1955

-

The Olive Tree Church cult started

Established Malssum [Words] magazine

1956

-

Began to write for Sasang-gye

1957

-

Founded the Ssial Farm in Ch'onan

1958

-

Mounting hostility between the two Koreas

Imprisoned under National Security Law   

Established Gandhi Study Group

1960

Chang Myon

April 19 Students Revolt

Committed a "sin"

1961

Park Chunghee

May 16 Military Coup

Began to attend Quaker Meetings

1963

-

Park became President

Mobilised public demonstrations

1965

-

Normalisation with Japan

Hunger strikes against Park's policy

1967

-

Chang elected as MP

Campaigned for Chang Chunha

1970

-

Park created Yusin rule

Established the Voice of the People

1971

-

National Assembly dissolved

Started to hold study meetings for Lao-tzu   

Established the National Council for the Protection of Democracy

1973

-

Kim Daejung abducted

Established a Quakerism Study Group

1974

-

8 students executed

Founded the National Congress for the Restoration of Democracy

1976

-

Imprisoned for a political statement

1978

-

Protests opposing Park's quest for a 4th term

Wife died while he was engaged in public lectures

1979

-

Park assassinated

Socio-political chaos

Imprisoned for political activity

Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

1980

Chun Doohwan

Kwangju Uprising and Chun's Military Coup

Held various public lectures

Placed under house arrest

1984

-

Founded Yi Sunghun Cultural Council

1985

-

Protests against Chun's regime

Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

1987

Roh T'aewoo

A student died from police torture

Presidential election

Hospitalised for cancer

Awarded Inch'on Press Prize

1988

-

Seoul Olympics

Chosen by Cabinet Members as the Head of Seoul Peace Olympiad

1989

-

Died at Seoul University Hospital