Park Geun-hye

Park Geun-hye
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Name	Park Geun-hye
Native name	박근혜
Birth date	1952-02-02
Birth place	Daegu
Nationality	South Korean
Occupation	Politician
Party	Saenuri (formerly), Future Korea Party (affiliated)
Spouse	Unmarried

Park Geun-hye (born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th President of the Republic of Korea from 2013 until her removal from office in 2017. She is the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee and First Lady Yuk Young-soo, and before the presidency she represented Daegu and Dalseong County in the National Assembly of South Korea for multiple terms. Her administration focused on foreign relations with United States–South Korea relations, China–South Korea relations, and North Korea–South Korea relations and pursued policies influenced by conservative parties such as the Grand National Party and the Saenuri Party.

Early life and education

Park was born in Daegu during the period of the Korean War's aftermath to Park Chung-hee and Yuk Young-soo, joining a prominent political family associated with the Democratic Republican Party (South Korea). After the assassination of her mother in 1974 and the assassination of her father in 1979, she lived through a tumultuous period involving figures like Kim Jae-gyu and institutions such as the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. Park attended Daegu Girls' High School and later studied electronic engineering at Sogang University before transferring to Konkuk University, where she graduated. Her formative years intersected with national events including the Yushin Constitution era and interactions with prominent leaders like Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo.

Political career

Park entered electoral politics following the restoration of civilian rule in South Korea, affiliating with conservative parties including the Democratic Liberal Party and the Grand National Party, which later became the Saenuri Party. She was first elected to the National Assembly of South Korea in a by-election representing Daegu and later won multiple mandates, contesting seats against figures such as Kim Young-sam and interacting with policy debates shaped by institutions like the Blue House (South Korea). Park became the chairperson of the Grand National Party and was a leading conservative figure in discussions about relations with United States–South Korea relations, Japan–South Korea relations, and strategic issues involving the Korean Peninsula and the Six-Party Talks. She ran in the 2007 South Korean presidential election primaries and later secured her party's nomination for the 2012 South Korean presidential election.

Presidency (2013–2017)

Park took office as President amid expectations concerning fiscal policy, regional diplomacy, and security challenges posed by North Korea and leaders such as Kim Jong-un. Her foreign policy emphasized strengthening ties with United States–South Korea relations and managing economic partnership with China–South Korea relations while addressing maritime disputes with Japan–South Korea relations. Domestic initiatives included economic measures influenced by advisors and institutions like the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (South Korea) and proposals that interacted with legacy debates stemming from the administrations of Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak. Park's administration navigated crises including the Sewol ferry disaster and sanctions responses to North Korea's nuclear tests, drawing scrutiny from the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and civic groups such as candlelight protesters.

Her presidency engaged with inter-Korean dialogue attempts and multilateral frameworks including the United Nations and United Nations Security Council sanctions, while domestic policy involved interactions with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and conservative civic organizations. Policy outcomes were debated in the National Assembly of South Korea, with opposition parties like the Minjoo Party of Korea and politicians such as Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo challenging her agenda.

Impeachment, trial, and imprisonment

In late 2016, revelations about influence exerted by confidante Choi Soon-sil and alleged collusion involving conglomerates such as Samsung and Lotte Corporation prompted mass protests including the 2016–2017 South Korean protests. The Prosecutor's Office (South Korea) and the Supreme Court of South Korea became central to investigations that led the National Assembly of South Korea to pass an impeachment motion, subsequently upheld by the Constitutional Court of Korea in March 2017, resulting in her removal from office. Following her removal, Park was subject to criminal charges including bribery, abuse of power, and coercion; she was arrested and tried in courts including the Seoul Central District Court.

Park was convicted and sentenced to prison terms that were reviewed on appeal in the Seoul High Court and the Supreme Court of South Korea. The trials referenced financial relationships with chaebol such as Samsung Group and legal scrutiny by agencies including the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (South Korea). Her sentences and subsequent legal developments involved pardons and clemency discussions linked to presidents like Moon Jae-in and institutions such as the Blue House (South Korea) under later administrations.

Personal life and public image

Park, unmarried and without direct heirs, is known for her familial association with former President Park Chung-hee and the mixed public perceptions shaped by conservative and progressive constituencies including conservative media outlets like JoongAng Ilbo and liberal outlets like Hankyoreh. Her public image was influenced by events such as the Sewol ferry tragedy and the 2016–2017 South Korean protests, and commentators from organizations like Korea Development Institute and think tanks such as the Asan Institute for Policy Studies analyzed her leadership style. International coverage by media organizations including BBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post reflected global interest in her policy decisions, legal controversies, and the implications for South Korea's democratic institutions.

Category:Presidents of South Korea Category:1952 births Category:Living people