January 1981 - January 23, 1981 (Friday)

January 23, 1981 (Friday)

• South Korea's President Chun Doo-hwan commuted the 1980 death sentence that had been given to Kim Dae-jung, who had run for President in 1971, and then kidnapped from Japan in 1973. The next day, President Chun announced the end of the state of martial law that had been in effect since 1979. Kim would be released in 1983, and in 1997, would be elected President of South Korea.
• Seven construction workers in Fresno County, California were killed when an elevator platform at PG&E's Helms Creek plant collapsed at 10:25 pm, ninety minutes before their workweek was to end. The men fell 300 feet (91 m) to their deaths.
• The city of Huber Heights, Ohio was incorporated.
• Died: Samuel Barber, 70, American classical composer