1987.10.14 – Memory of a Time Gone By October 14th, 1987 – a date that exists solely as a set of numbers, yet holds a special place in the hearts of those who experienced it. To some, it may seem like a distant memory, a time long gone by, but to those who lived through it, it remains etched in their minds forever. It was a year filled with tumultuous events and marked a turning point in history, both locally and globally. The world was still divided between the East and West, with the Soviet Union and the United States at the forefront of global politics. The year had begun with the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a landmark agreement that reduced the risk of nuclear war between the two superpowers. Meanwhile, closer to home, South Korea was still under the iron grip of military rule, with widespread protests against the regime being brutally suppressed. On October 14th, however, the focus shifted to a different kind of event – the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Literature. The recipient that year was the Italian novelist and playwright, Dario Fo, whose work highlighted the injustices and corruption in Italian society. While the news was greeted with celebration in some quarters, it was also met with protests and controversy, particularly from those who saw Fo as a political activist rather than a true literary figure. Aside from the Nobel announcement, that day was much like any other. People went about their daily lives, going to work or school, running errands, and spending time with loved ones. They had no idea that in just a few weeks, the world would be shaken by a major stock market crash that would have far-reaching consequences. Looking back now, it's hard to believe that 1987 was over three decades ago. So much has changed since then, both in terms of technology and global politics. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of apartheid in South Africa, and the rise of the internet are just a few of the seismic shifts that have occurred in the intervening years. Yet, for those who remember 1987, October 14th remains a poignant reminder of a time when the world was on edge and the future was uncertain.