The reporting shock is autumn 2016. The constitutional shock is winter 2016–17. The criminal shock is 2018.
Sewol (2014) is atmosphere and a separate dossier, not a date on this crime list.
Timeline
- Park elected
Park Geun-hye wins the presidency. Choi Soon-sil is already a private associate, not a cabinet officer.
- JTBC tablet reporting
JTBC and other outlets document Choi's access to speeches and to chaebol-linked foundations. The scandal becomes national.
- Candlelight Saturdays
Mass protests, especially at Gwanghwamun, demand Park's departure. English media adopt the candlelight label.
- Assembly impeachment
The National Assembly passes the impeachment motion. Park is suspended pending the Constitutional Court.
- Court removes Park
The Constitutional Court upholds impeachment unanimously. Park leaves office the same day.
- Moon elected
Moon Jae-in wins the snap presidential election. The political page turns; the criminal page does not.
- Special prosecutors
Park, Choi and business figures including Lee Jae-yong face indictment on bribery and abuse-of-power theories.
- Park convicted
A Seoul court convicts Park and imposes a long term, later adjusted on appeal. Choi is also convicted.
- Park pardoned
Moon grants clemency, citing health and reconciliation. The convictions remain on the record.
- Chaebol afterlife
Lee's separate legal path and later corporate politics keep the Samsung thread in financial English after the Blue House story cools.
After March 2017 the timeline is criminal court and clemency, not a second impeachment.
Public-record encyclopedia. Not legal advice. Not a how-to. Graphic detail is withheld. Wars belong in a separate atlas.