I was reading through a few different topics that had significant developments in 2019 but, naturally, due to the pandemic they became pigeon holed in memory. So what were big news events of 2019 that we either forgot about or haven't gotten back to?
I can go first. [CW, content not mentioned but is related to the scandal: sexual assault, rape, gang rape] Reminds that Burning Sun nightclub scandal in South Korea that was unfolding in 2019? Looks like since that time, all participants have served and are out of jail, which is disgusting how short of a time they got. Police were involved but none were significantly prosecuted.
HK Protests
Edit: reading the rest of your question:
They weren't forgotten, So, maybe not the best answer to your question. I'll have a think on that second part of it
I kind of think they were, they just got absorbed into 2020 BLM protest as well then forgotten
Where I live they're still referenced. A popular comedian had a 光复香港 时代革命 (reclaim HK, revolution of our times) flag on his set of his TV show til mid-2023. There were news pieces about the National Security Law and Jimmy Lai recently too. So because of what has precipitated since the protests, the protests themselves are occasionally called upon in news media in Australia to reinforce 'China bad'