Another year has gone by, which means it is time once again for a year end look at the top stories of 2009 in South Korea.  I ranked the stories in different categories 1-10.  I tried to rank them in order of importance, which I am sure readers will different opinions about, but I think I captured every major story of 2009.  Have a happy New Year everyone.

South Korea Postings

1. Suidcide of former Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
2. The death of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
3. The deadly Yongsan fire that killed six people.
4. Korea to send non-combat troops to Afghanistan.
5. The arrest and prosecution of Korean blogger Minerva. (More here.)
6. Increase in foreign marriages in South Korea.  (Related: New regulation to force foreign brides to learn Korean.)
7. Failed South Korean satellite launch.
8. Chinese embassy sponsored attacks against Koreans in Ansan.
9. Korean Truth & Reconcilliation Commission faces disbandment.
10. Seoul to reconstruct ancient gates and walls by 2013.

North Korea Postings

1. 2nd North Korean nuclear test.
2. North Korea fires missile towards Hawaii.
3. US journalists freed after Bill Clinton visit to North Korea.
4. North Korea succession speculation. (Related: Speculation about NorthKorean regime collapse)
5. Is North Korea selling detonators to kill US soldiers with? (Related: Plane caught smuggling North Korean arms.)
6. Lots of flip flopping on North Korea’s uranium program. (Another flip flopper here.)
7. North Korea intentional flood kills South Korean civilians.
8. The odyssey of the Kang Nam I.
9. North Korea implicated in global insurance fraud scheme.
10. Conflict along the Northern Limit Line.

USFK Postings

1. More USFK contractors lose jobs due to visa issue.
2. US & Korea agree to Camp Humphreys relocation by 2015.
3. US & South Korea agree to solution to camp pollution issue.
4. Audit finds millions lost in USFK contracting fraud.
5. Stars & Stripes exposes prostitution in juicy bars.
6. DMZ school stays open due to efforts of USFK servicemembers.
7. Korean students alleged to be illegally enrolled in USFK schools.
8. 2ID commander recommends alcohol and curfew policy changes.
9. 8th Army Headquarters to remain in Korea.
10. Discussions on ending Osan’s juicy bars. (More here.)

Expat Related Postings

1. Controversy over HIV testing of English teachers.
2. The bus racism incident.
3. Michael White’s mom tries to get his story on CNN.
4. Australian criticizes Koreans for acting like Americans.
5. Jon Huer’s bashing of English teachers in Korea.
6. Are “low quality foreign English teachers” the new GI’s in Korea?
7. ATEK’s fight for equal hiring standards for English teachers.
8. English teachers quarantined for swine flu.
9. Death threat made against ATEK president.
10. Golden Klog Awards announced.

Sports Postings

1. Y.E. Yang wins PGA championship.
2. Kim Yu-na wins Korea’s first World Skating Championship.
3. Japan wins WBC championship over South Korea.
4. Michelle Wie wins first professional tournament.
5. Y.E. Yang wins Honda Classic.
6. South Korean female golfers continue to excel.
7. Usain Bolt withdraws from Korean track meet.
8. Chan Ho Park appears in first World Series.
9. South Korean pool champ not pursuing modeling career.
10. COED magazine’s World Cup 2010 models.

Crime Postings

1. Korean public angered by light jail sentence for child rapist.
2. Filipina woman stabbed by US soldier in Songtan.
3. Authorities arrest MBC personnel responsible for mad cow scare.
4. Disabled 17 year old girl tortured and killed by friends.
5. Christopher Grey sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife.
6. Osan airman jailed for gun incident.
7. Korean military officers arrested for golf outings.
8. How much has easing the curfew increased criminal incidents in USFK?
9. Korean man arrested for USFK weapons smuggling ring.
10. ROK Army soldiers arrested for fraud in Iraq.

Unusual Postings

1. Naked News Korea opens and closes within a month.
2. Hong-man Choi fights Jose Canseco.
3. Seoul woman sets karaoke world record.
4. USFK accused of rabbit killing.
5. Chinese condoms contaminated in South Korea.
6. Korean restaurant in Brazil investigated for selling dog meat.
7. Michelle Rhee linked to Kevin Johnson sex scandal.
8. Korean woman fails driving test 771 times.  (This woman took even longer.)
9. Korean hypnotists attempt to seduce woman fails.
10. The Dokdo Racers