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Park Geun-hye

January 05, 2023

In this Korean name, the family name is Park.

Park Geun-hye (Korean: 박근혜; RR: Bak Geun(-)hye; IPA: [pak‿k͈ɯn.hje]; often in English /ˈpɑːrk ˌɡʊn ˈheɪ/; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges.

Her Excellency
Park Geun-hye
박근혜
Official portrait, 2013
11th President of South Korea
In office
25 February 2013 – 10 March 2017[a]
Prime Minister
Preceded byLee Myung-bak
Succeeded by
Leader of the Grand National Party
In office
23 March 2004 – 15 June 2006
Preceded byChoi Byeong-yul
Succeeded byKim Yeong-seon (acting)
Leader of the Saenuri Party
In office
19 December 2011 – 15 May 2012
Preceded byHwang Woo-yea (acting)
Succeeded byHwang Woo-yea
Member of the National Assembly
In office
3 April 1998 – 29 May 2012
Preceded byKim Suk-won
Succeeded byLee Jong-jin
ConstituencyDalseong (Daegu)
In office
30 May 2012 – 10 December 2012
ConstituencyProportional representation
First Lady of South Korea
Acting
In role
16 August 1974 – 26 October 1979
PresidentPark Chung-hee
Preceded byYuk Young-soo
Succeeded byHong Gi
Personal details
Born (1952-02-02) 2 February 1952 (age 70)
Daegu, South Korea
Political partyIndependent (2017–present)[1]
Other political
affiliations		Saenuri (until 2017)
Parents
Residence(s)Seoul, South Korea
Alma materSogang University
Signature
Korean name
Hangul
박근혜
Revised RomanizationBak Geun(-)hye
McCune–ReischauerPak Kŭnhye

Park was the first woman to be elected president of South Korea,[2] and also the first female president popularly elected as head of state in East Asia. She was also the first South Korean president to be born after the founding of South Korea. Her father, Park Chung-hee, was president from 1963 to 1979, serving five consecutive terms after he seized power in 1961.[2]

Before her presidency, Park was leader of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Liberty Korea Party from 2011 to 2012. She was also a member of the National Assembly, serving four consecutive parliamentary terms between 1998 and 2012. Park started her fifth term as a representative elected via national list in June 2012. In 2013 and 2014, Park ranked 11th on the Forbes list of the world's 100 most powerful women and the most powerful woman in East Asia.[3] In 2014, she ranked 46th on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful people, the third-highest South Korean on the list, after Lee Kun-hee and Lee Jae-yong.

On 9 December 2016, Park was impeached by the National Assembly on charges related to influence peddling by her top aide, Choi Soon-sil.[4] Then-Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn assumed her powers and duties as acting president as a result.[5] The Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment by a unanimous 8–0 ruling on 10 March 2017, thereby removing Park from office, making her the first Korean president to be so removed.[6] On 6 April 2018, South Korean courts sentenced her to 24 years in prison (later increased to 25 years) for corruption and abuse of power.[7][8]

In 2018, two separate criminal cases resulted in an increase of seven years in Park's prison sentence. She was found guilty of illegally taking off-the-book funds from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and given a five-year prison sentence, and also found guilty of illegally interfering in the Saenuri Party primaries in the 2016 South Korean legislative election, for which she was sentenced to two more years in prison.[9] On 24 December 2021, it was announced that she would receive a pardon on compassionate grounds from South Korean President Moon Jae-in. She was released from prison on 31 December[10] and returned home three months later on 24 March 2022.[11]

Early life and education

Park Geun-hye was born on 2 February 1952, in Samdeok-dong of Jung District, Daegu, as the first child of Park Chung-hee, the third president of South Korea, who having come to power with the May 16 military coup d'état of 1961, served from 1963 to 1979; and his wife, First Lady Yuk Young-soo. Both of her parents were assassinated. She has a younger brother, Park Ji-man, and a younger sister, Park Geun-ryeong.[12] She is unmarried with no children. Pew Research Center described her as an atheist with a Buddhist and Roman Catholic upbringing.[13]

In 1953, Park's family moved to Seoul, where she graduated from Jangchung Elementary School and Sungshim (literal: Sacred Heart) Girls' Middle and High School in 1970, going on to receive a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering from Sogang University in 1974.[14] She briefly studied at Joseph Fourier University in France, but left following the murder of her mother.[15]

Park's mother was killed on 15 August 1974 in the National Theater of Korea; Mun Se-gwang, a Japanese-born ethnic Korean sympathizer of North Korea and member of the Chongryon, was attempting to assassinate her husband, President Park Chung-hee.[16] Park Geun-hye was regarded as First Lady until the assassination of her father by his intelligence chief, Kim Jae-gyu, on 26 October 1979.[17][18][19] During this time, activists who were political opponents of Park's father claimed to be subject to arbitrary detention. Further, human rights were considered subordinate to economic development.[20] In 2007, Park expressed regret at the treatment of activists during this period.[21]

Park received honorary doctoral degrees from the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan in 1987, Pukyong National University and KAIST in 2008, Sogang University in 2010, and TU Dresden in 2014.[22]

Political career

Assemblywoman

Park was elected a Grand National Party (GNP; later the Liberty Korea Party, or Saenuri Party) assemblywoman for Dalseong County (Daegu) in the 1998 by-election, and three more times in the same electoral district between 1998 and 2008, being the incumbent assemblywoman till April 2012. In 2012, Park announced that she would not run for a constituency representative seat for the 19th election in Dalseong or anywhere else, but for a proportional representative position for the Saenuri Party instead, in order to lead the party's election campaign.[23] She was elected as a proportional representative in the April 2012 election.[24][25]

GNP chairwoman and "Queen of Elections"

Due to the failed attempt to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun and the bribery scandal of its 2002 presidential candidate, Lee Hoi-chang (revealed in 2004), the GNP was facing a severe defeat in the 2004 general election. Park was appointed as the chairwoman of the party and led the election efforts. In the election, the GNP lost its majority position but managed to gain 121 seats, which was largely considered a great achievement under such inhospitable circumstances for the party.[26][27] As the chairwoman of the GNP, Park helped her party make significant gains in local elections and actually obtain a majority in 2006.

During the campaign, on 20 May 2006, Ji Chung-ho, a 50-year-old man with eight criminal convictions, slashed Park's face with a utility knife, causing an 11-centimeter wound that required 60 stitches and several hours of surgery.[28][29] A famous anecdote from this incident occurred when Park was hospitalized after the attack: the first word that she said to her secretary after her recovery from her wound was, "How is Daejeon?" After this, the GNP candidate in the Daejeon mayoral race won the election despite having trailed by more than 20 percentage points in opinion polls up to the point of the attack. In addition, during Park's term as the GNP chairwoman between 2004 and 2006, the party won all 40 reelections and by-elections held, which was largely credited to her influence and efforts. This feat gave Park a nickname "Queen of Elections".[30][31][32]

On 12 February 2007, Park made a much-publicized visit to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Her visit culminated in an address to a packed audience at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she said she wanted to save Korea and advocated a stronger relationship between South Korea and the United States.[33][34]

2007 presidential bid

Park hoped to emulate her father's success by becoming the presidential nominee of the GNP.[25] She eventually lost to Lee Myung-bak by a narrow margin. Lee had a commanding lead at the beginning of the primary season, but Park was able to narrow the gap through allegations of Lee's corruption. Park won the "party members' bid", but she lost the "national bid", which is a larger percentage of the total presidential bid.[citation needed]

2008 general election

After the 2007 presidential election, President Lee Myung-bak formed a government of mostly close supporters.[35] Park's supporters argued that this was a kind of political reprisal and that they should secede from the GNP.[36] Eventually, they formed parties named Pro-Park Coalition and Solidarity for Pro-Park Independents (친박 무소속 연대; Chin Park Musosok Yeondae). Park herself did not join them, but indirectly supported them by announcing, "I hope these people will come back alive." After the mass secession, the rebels announced that they would rejoin the GNP after the general election, but the party prohibited it. In the following 2008 general election, the rebels won 26 seats: fourteen from the Pro-Park Coalition and twelve as independents. Together, they played a pivotal role in the GNP's narrow majority. Park continually insisted that the GNP should allow the return of her supporters. As of 2011, most of these rebels had returned to the GNP, resulting in approximately 50 to 60 assembly members who supported Park out of 171 in the GNP.[citation needed]

Head of Saenuri Party

In 2011, as a response to the dwindling approval rating of the GNP, the party formed an emergency committee and changed its name to the Saenuri Party, or "New Frontier" Party.[23] On 19 December, Park was appointed as the chairwoman of the emergency committee, the de facto leader of the party.[citation needed]

2012 parliamentary election

The Saenuri Party achieved a surprise win against the opposing Democratic United Party in the 2012 general election, winning 152 seats and retaining its majority position. Because of the corruption scandals of the Lee administration revealed before the election, the party was widely expected to win no more than 100 seats.[37] During the 13-day campaign period, Park traveled about 7,200 km (4,500 mi) around South Korea, visiting more than 100 constituencies.[38] It is the consensus of Korean news media and political experts that the most important factor leading to Saenuri Party's victory was Park's leadership. For this reason, the 2012 election was often dubbed the "return of the Queen of Election".[37][39] The party's defeat in the populous Seoul metropolitan area in this election, however, revealed the limitation of Park's political influence.[37]

2012 presidential campaign

Main article: 2012 South Korean presidential election

Park had been the leading candidate for the 2012 presidential election in every national poll in South Korea between 2008, when the Lee administration began, and September 2011, with an approval rating of 25% to 45%, more than twice that of the second candidate. Park's approval rating was highest during the 2008 general election showed her strong influence, and lowest in early 2010 as a result of her political stance against the Lee administration in Sejong City issue.[40] Park also benefited from a public image of standing aloofly above the fray of politics.[41]

In September 2011, Ahn Cheol-soo, a former venture IT businessman and the Dean of Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University, emerged as a strong independent candidate for the presidency. In national presidential polls in September 2011, Ahn and Park closely competed for the status of frontrunner, with Park losing the top seat in some polls for the first time since 2008.[42]

On 10 July 2012, Park formally announced her presidential bid at the Time Square, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul. In this event, she emphasized the right to pursue happiness, a democratic economy, and customized welfare services for the Korean people.[43] In a national survey by Mono Research on 30 August[44] Park was the top presidential candidate with an approval rating of 45.5% when competing with all potential candidates, and according to another recent national survey result had a higher approval rating (50.6%) than Ahn (43.9%) in a two-way competition as of 11 September.[45] The opposing Democratic Party of Korea elected Moon Jae-in as its presidential candidate on 17 September, while Ahn announced his presidential bid on 19 September. Although still a leading candidate, Park had a lower approval rating than both Ahn and Moon when engaged in two-way competition, according to a 22 September national survey.[46] Park was elected as president of the Republic of Korea on 19 December 2012, with the approval of 51.6% of Korean voters.[47]

In 2017, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) admitted that it had conducted an illicit campaign to influence the 2012 presidential election, mobilizing teams of experts in psychological warfare to ensure that Park defeated Moon.[48]

Positions

 
Park (center) smiles and shows a portrait drawn by a girl in Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, at Children's Day 5 May 2013

In a 2012 survey by Korean Research assessing the political stance of twelve potential presidential candidates of South Korea, Park was considered the most conservative candidate.[23][49] Her conservative, market-oriented political stance was well reflected in her campaign pledge for 2008 presidential bid to cut taxes, reduce regulation, and establish strong law and order.[50] Since 2009, however, Park started to focus more on welfare issues, advocating customized welfare services to the Korean people.[50]

Park was well known for her strict adherence to political promises. In 2010, for example, she successfully stopped the Lee administration's attempt to cancel the plan to establish Sejong City, a new national center of administration, arguing that the plan was a promise made to the people. This conflict between Park and the Lee administration cost her a considerable decrease in her approval rating at the time.[51] In 2012, Park also vowed to construct a new airport in the southeastern region, a 2008 presidential campaign promise made by GNP but cancelled in 2011, despite claims of economic infeasibility of the plan.[52]

The administrative vision of Park's new government was "a new era of hope and happiness". The five Administrative Goals of the government were "a jobs-centered creative economy", "tailored employment and welfare", "creativity-oriented education and cultural enrichment", "a safe and united society" and "strong security measures for sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula". The Park Geun-hye administration planned to create a trustworthy, clean, and capable government by carrying out these goals, related strategies, and tasks.[53]

Park chose not to vote in the 2017 South Korean presidential election.[54]

Presidency (2013–17)

Inauguration

 
President Park on inauguration day, 25 February 2013

Park became the 11th president of South Korea on 25 February 2013. At midnight, she took over all presidential authorities including the prerogative of supreme command of South Korea's armed forces from her predecessor Lee Myung-bak. In her inauguration speech at the National Assembly building, Park spoke of her plan to open a new era of hope through "economic prosperity, people's happiness, and cultural enrichment". She particularly expressed her hope that North Korea would give up its nuclear arms and walk on the path of peace and mutual development, and declared that the foundation for a happy era of unification in which all Korean people will be able to enjoy prosperity and freedom and realize their dreams would be built through the Korean Peninsula Trust-building Process. In her inauguration speech, Park presented four guiding principles to realize her administrative vision: economic prosperity, people's happiness, cultural enrichment, and establishment of a foundation for peaceful unification.[55] Park's inauguration ceremony was the largest one in South Korean history with 70,000 participants. Diplomatic representatives in Korea, as well as high-level delegates specially sent from 24 countries around the world including Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, U.S. National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon, Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, also participated in the event to congratulate Park.[56][57]

First year (February 2013 – February 2014)

Administrative philosophy

The goal of the newly launched Park Geun-hye Administration for governing state affairs was to open "a new era of hope and happiness for all the people". Park avowed that South Korea would break away from its long-pursued development model that centered around the nation, and shift the focus of government administration from the state to individual citizens. Through this process the structure of co-prosperity would be created, in which citizens became happy and national development occurred as a result. Park's administrative vision and basic principles for governing the nation were concretely outlined in her policy plans for the economy, society, welfare, diplomacy, and unification. The administration's keywords in managing state affairs were "people", "happiness", "trust", "co-prosperity" and "principle".[58]

Government restructuring

Right after taking office, Park restructured the Blue House and government organization to carry out her administrative vision. The Office of National Security at the Blue House, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries were newly launched, and the seat of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs was revived. The Chief of the National Security Office would act as a "control tower" for diplomatic, security, and national defense issues, and the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs for economic, social, and welfare issues.[59]

Foreign policy

United States
 
Park Geun-hye at a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on 7 May 2013

After taking office, Park met with John Kerry and U.S. President Barack Obama. Park's trip to the United States in May 2013 was her first foreign trip after taking office.[60]

Like many of her predecessors, Park maintained a close relationship with the U.S., which has over 20,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea. During her visit to the U.S., she addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress, where she called for a united front against any North Korean provocations. Park also called for a strong global relationship between South Korea and the United States.[61]

Park assessed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and emphasized that deterrence capabilities were the most important factor for security. Thus, Park considered the American–South Korean alliance as the most successful one in the world. She hoped the American–South Korean relationship can be upgraded from a comprehensive strategic alliance to a global partnership.[62]

Park visited the United States on her first overseas trip as president. She traveled to Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles on 5–9 May 2013.[63]

During summit talks in May at the White House, Presidents Park and Obama adopted a joint declaration for the American-South Korean alliance and discussed ways to further develop the bilateral relations in a future-forward manner. Also, two leaders discussed ways to promote cooperation in building peace in the Northeast Asian region and strength the partnership between Seoul and Washington.[64]

The two leaders of South Korea and the United States agreed to adopt a joint statement on comprehensive energy cooperation to build a foundation for a future growth engine and establish a policy cooperation committee on information and communication technology. In addition, Park urged her U.S. counterpart to expand the annual U.S. visa quota for South Korean professionals in order to promote co-development of both economies.[64]

In particular, the "Joint declaration in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America" adopted by South Korea and the United States will become a meaningful document looking back at the past six decades of the alliance and spelling out a new direction for the development of bilateral relations over the coming decade.[65]

North Korea

North Korea had engaged in provocations such as violating a UN Security Council resolution and firing a long-range missile on 12 December 2012, just before 19 December presidential election. After Park was elected, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test 12 February 2013, nullified the non-aggression agreements between the two countries on 8 March and withdrew North Korean workers from the Kaesong Industrial Complex on 8 April.[66] Park maintained her stance that South Korea will not succumb to the North's provocations and threats, and will endeavor to elicit policy coordination towards North Korea with major powers such as the United States, China and the UN.[67] Her response to North Korean issues gained the support of many South Koreans and also the United States, China, and Russia, and played a significant role in the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2094 regarding North Korea on 7 March 2013.[68] Due to Park's response and the international community's actions, on 6 June North Korea ceased provocations and threats towards the South and suggested holding discussions on reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex.[69] Park said that peace and unification on the Korean peninsula is the wish of all 70 million Koreans and that as president she will do her utmost to meet such a goal. As well, "the ultimate objective of reunification efforts is to improve the quality of life of people in both Koreas, to further expand freedom and human rights, and [from there] build a prosperous Korean Peninsula."[70] She later stated, "to open a new era of peace and hope on the peninsula, North Korea needs to accept her administration's trust-building policy initiative".[71][72]

Park's policy vision and initiative on issues concerning North Korea and unification are reflected in her Korean Peninsula Trust-building Process. The Ministry of Unification has announced a new vision statement "realizing a new unified Korea that ensures everyone's happiness". The administrative tasks for this cause include normalizing inter-Korean relations through a trust-building process, embarking on small-scale unification projects that will lead to a complete integration of the two Koreas, and taking practical measures to prepare for unification by strengthening unification capabilities.[73] According to Park, peaceful unification will be achieved in a three-stage unification initiative: starting from securing peace, going through economic integration, and finally reaching political integration. To achieve sustainable peace by the initiative, the new administration will offer humanitarian assistance for the people in North Korea, inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in economic, social, and cultural areas, and will apply 'Vision Korea project' for establishing a single economic community in the Korean Peninsula, conditioned on sufficient mutual trust and progress in denuclearizing North Korea.[74]

China
 
Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing, 27 June 2013

On 27–30 June 2013, Park visited China with a South Korean delegation, where she met with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president. During the meetings, Park explained the government's stance on North Korea and gained his support.[75]

Russia

On 13 November 2013, Park held an extended meeting with President Vladimir Putin, whose visit to South Korea was the first among leaders of four major powers including the United States, China, and Japan. During the meeting, Park and Putin had a comprehensive and productive dialogue with a focus on improving economic relations such as logistics cooperation projects (through Russia and North Korea), expanding people-to-people exchanges, and strengthening political ties between South Korea and Russia. Park, especially, emphasized on making preparations to produce an outcome that corresponds to common interests by combining Korea's Eurasian Initiative and Russia's Asia-Pacific Policy. After the summit, both presidents issued a joint communique and held a joint press conference.[76][77] Earlier, Park attended the G-20 Summit in September 2013 at St. Petersburg, where she met Putin for a separate dialogue discussing economic cooperation and seeking support on North Korean issues. It marked the first Korea–Russia summit talk since Park's inauguration.[78] When Park met with Russian Minister for the Development of Russian Far East Viktor Ishaev, who headed the Russian delegation to Park's inaugural ceremony, she stated that Russia is one of Korea's key strategic partners, and the successful launch of the Naro rocket is the outcome of mutually beneficial relations and demonstrates that relations will grow stronger in the future. She also noted that Russia's active participation in the six-party talks will contribute to alleviating tension on the Korean Peninsula.[79]

Economic policy

 
Park delivering the keynote speech during an economic policy meeting on 27 December at the Sejong Government Complex.

Park announced her plan to build a "Creative Economy" on 5 June 2013, representing her vision for economic revival and job creation.[80] In April, Park said "Timing is very important for our economic policy, jobs and livelihood mainly ordinary people should organize a supplementary budget in a timely manner."[81] She encouraged the gig economy.[82] On 8 April 2014, Park signed the Australia–Korea Free Trade Agreement with Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott.[83]

Social policy

Park proposed the eradication of "Four Major Social Evils" (사 대회악: "sa dae hwe ak") – sexual violence, domestic violence, school violence, and unsafe food. Statistics show that sexual violence and domestic violence are increasing in these years. Without referring to statistical data, aggravating school violence or food safety is a public concern in South Korea.[84][85] She also launched the National Unity Committee on 17 June with the purpose to advise the president in the process of resolving various conflicts in South Korean society and establishing a culture of co-existence and co-prosperity. Former Democratic United Party Advisor Han Kwang -ok was named as the head.[86]

National

On 18 May 2013, Park attended the 33rd anniversary of the Gwangju massacre, and expressed sorrow for the victims' family members.[87]

Second year (February 2014 – February 2015)

 
Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama, 25 April 2014

Foreign policy

North Korea

Park proposed three steps to North Korea to help move toward the reunification of the Korean Peninsula, on 28 March in Dresden during her state visit to Germany.[88] She stated that "Starting with jointly managing rivers and forests running through the two Koreas, we need to expand joint projects that benefit both sides. In that respect, I hope North Korea will attend the UN Convention on Biological Diversity conference to be held in South Korean city of Pyeongchang in October."[89] In May 2014, Park warned that a new nuclear test by North Korea could lead to "a nuclear domino effect", that might provide its neighbors with a pretext to arm themselves with nuclear weapons.[90]

Government restructuring

On 18 May 2014, Park announced South Korea's "plans to break up its coastguard" after failing to respond well during the MV Sewol ferry disaster.[91] According to Park, "investigation and information roles would be transferred to the South Korea National Police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles would be transferred to the Department for National Safety, not to be confused with the Korean Ministry of Security and Public Administration, which will be newly established".[92] On 19 November 2014, the Korea Coast Guard and National Emergency Management Agency ceased control as the Ministry of Public Safety and Security was founded at the same day.[93]

Third year (February 2015 – February 2016)

Foreign policy

 
Park meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN-India Summit
China

On 26 May 2015, Park urged the head of the Asian Development Bank to cooperate with South Korea and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank[94] after South Korea had officially applied to join the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in late March 2015.[95]

Fourth and final year (February 2016 – March 2017)

Foreign policy

Iran
 
Park Geun-hye being welcomed by Iran's business minister, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh in Mehrabad Airport

On 1 May 2016, Park became the first South Korean president to visit Iran.[96][97] She was at the head of a 236-member delegation of businessmen and entrepreneurs during a three-day visit to Tehran to discuss bilateral trade and other matters of mutual interest.[98] She met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and held talks with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.[citation needed] The two countries also signed 19 basic agreements to expand mutual cooperation over a variety of areas.[citation needed] Earlier, Iran's President Rouhani emphasized that Iran and South Korea are set to boost their trade volume from the current $6 billion to $18 billion.[citation needed]

2016 general elections

Park suffered a serious setback in the 2016 general elections on 13 April 2016, as the Saenuri Party lost both its majority and its status as first party in the National Assembly.[99] Park had been criticized for her involvement in the elections and the party's nomination process,[100][101] and other Saenuri members blamed the pro-Park faction in the party for the defeat.[102] Park loyalists fared badly in constituency elections.[103] The result was seen to hinder the chances of Park's passing her proposed economic reforms,[104] and in the aftermath of the results the conservative The Chosun Ilbo stated that Park's "lame duck period has started earlier than any other administration in the past".[105]

Approval ratings

 
Park Geun-hye's Presidential Job Approval Rating
 
Approval ratings by age

In July 2013, public support for Park's method of governing state affairs reached up to 63 percent, higher than the percentage of the votes she had won in the presidential election, which was 52 percent.[106] The Korean media suggested that such a high level of support came from Park's principled North Korea policy, constructive outcomes from visits to the United States and China, and distancing from internal political disputes.[107]

By January 2015, Park's approval rating had fallen to 30 percent, partly due to the sinking of MV Sewol and disputes with North Korea.[108] By September 2015, Park's approval had increased to 54 percent due to her diplomacy that defused a military standoff with North Korea,[109] but in the aftermath of her party's 2016 election loss, her ratings fell to 31.5 percent, plunging 8.1 percentage points compared to the week before the election.[110]

On 4 November 2016, Park's ratings fell to 4–5% as details of her relationship with Choi Soon-sil were investigated and exposed in what became the 2016 South Korean political scandal.[111][112][113]

Arrest, detention, pardon and post-presidency (2017–present)

Park was arrested on 31 March 2017, and held in pre-trial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.[114][115] On 17 April 2017, Park was formally charged with abuse of power, bribery, coercion and leaking government secrets.[116] Park denied the charges during five rounds of interrogation while in prison.[116][117][118]

Trial

Prosecutors sought a 30-year prison term for Park, along with a fine of ₩188.5 billion (US$110,579,397). On 6 April 2018, a three-judge panel of the Central District Court in Seoul sentenced Park to 24 years in prison and a fine of ₩18 billion (US$16,798,683), finding her guilty of 16 out of 18 charges brought before her.[119][120][121][122]

In June 2018, three former NIS directors (Lee Byung-kee, Lee Byung-ho, and Nam Jae-joon) who served in the Park administration were found guilty of bribing, related to the 2016 Park Geun-hye scandals. They illegally transferred money from the NIS budget to Park's presidential office. This illegally obtained money was used by Park and her associates for private use and to pay bribes.[123] On 24 August 2018, Park's sentence was increased to 25 years in prison.[8]

Retrial and reduced sentence

In July 2020, an appellate court reduced Park's prison sentence to 20 years after a retrial, taking into account that she "received little personal benefit" from her offences, and Park was also cleared of charges of alleged extortion from conglomerates paying donations to foundations of Choi Soon-sil.[124][125] In January 2021, South Korea's top court upheld the 20-year prison sentence, bringing an end to the legal process.[126]

Pardon and release from prison

On 24 December 2021, it was announced that Park would receive a pardon from South Korean President Moon Jae-in.[10] In his pardon, President Moon cited Park's deteriorating health and the needs to “overcome unfortunate past history and promote national unity” as reasons for the pardon.[127] On 31 December, she was released from prison,[127] returning home three months later on 24 March 2022.[11]

Controversies

Parentage controversy

Park had been often criticized for being the "daughter of a dictator" (Park Chung-hee)[128][129] and by supporters of Lee Myung-bak for not actively supporting the Lee administration. A national-level poll conducted in July 2012 by a conservative newspaper reported that 59% of participants responded they did not believe Park was a "daughter of a dictator" while 36% agreed with the characterization.[130] Park Chung-Hee's status as a dictator became a contested topic after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. GNP party elites saw this as their chance to revitalize Park Chung-Hee's image, focusing on South Korea's economic growth during his administration, thus steadily changing his public perception.[131]

During a 2012 interview with the Cheongju broadcast station CJB, Park commented regarding her stance that her father's May 16 coup was a "revolution to save the country" by stating, "I don't think it's the place of politicians to be fighting over whether [the events of 1961] were a 'coup d'etat' or a 'revolution'."[132] In a July 2012 survey, 50% of respondents answered that they disagreed with Park's assessment that her father's 1961 coup was "unavoidable, the best possible choice, and an advisable decision", as opposed to 37% that agreed.[133] From another survey conducted in July 2012, 42% of respondents agreed with her opinion that her father's 1961 coup was "unavoidable", while 46% disagreed.[134]

Because Park inherited strong regional and generational support from her father, as well as the legacy of his economic success, Park's opponents used her father as criticism against her.[131]

Bu-il foundation accusations

Park has faced much scrutiny over an educational foundation, Jeongsoo Scholarship Foundation, formerly known as Buil (in reference to the stock it controls in the newspaper "Busan Ilbo"), which her father, and later she, headed. Its original owners claimed in court they were forced to turn it over to her father.[135]

Party criticism

Liberty Korea Party assemblyman Nam Kyung-pil criticized the Park-centered nature of the party, regarding its preparation for the 2012 presidential election, and stated, "If we keep seeing the same situation where Park Geun-hye gives a press conference before a general meeting of lawmakers is held, and what she says then gets decided on as the party's position, then the public is going to think democracy has disappeared from the party."[136]

Furthermore, some have said Park's behavior in the lead-up to 2012 presidential election was a mixture of trend-following and corner-cutting—a stark contrast with the vehement insistence on the principle that she showed when she opposed a revision of the plan for a multifunctional administrative city in Sejong City. For instance, Yim Tae-hee, another presidential candidate of the party, pointed to Park's voting down of a motion to arrest Chung Doo-un, a lawmaker implicated with bribery related to saving banks. Another candidate, Ahn Sang-soo, accused Park of "saying one thing yesterday and another today".[136]

Spokesman scandal

Further information: Yoon Chang-jung

Park fired Yoon Chang-jung, a Blue House spokesman who was alleged by Washington police to have committed sexual assault against a young woman hired as an intern at the South Korean Embassy in Washington during Park's first visit to the United States.[137] Park has been criticized for picking the wrong people for senior government posts.[138]

Election-meddling scandal

Main article: 2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal

Just a week before the presidential election date, the opposing party alleged that the public servants from National Intelligence Service (NIS) have organized to promote Park's election campaign by way of posting online articles favorable to Park and slanderous to the opposing candidates.[citation needed] This political behavior by public servants is strictly prohibited by Korean Constitution.[139] To prove their allegation, the opposing Democratic Party, along with the police and Central Election Assistance Commission, swooped in the house where the alleged agent of NIS has resided.[citation needed] From there, the 29-year-old female agent, later known as Ha-Young Kim, who was running an illegal online election campaign operation such as spreading slanderous postings about the opposing candidate had locked herself in.[citation needed] The police could not force to enter the house and the standoff lasted for three days, provoking a tense political standoff.[citation needed] The opposition accused the intelligence service of blocking an investigation.[citation needed] Park and her party accused the opposition of harassing the woman.[140] Park even said the standoff of the self-lock-in was a violation of a female right in the presidential candidate debate that took place three days before the election.[citation needed]

Later that night of the presidential debate, Kim Yong-pan, then the chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, publicly announced there was no evidence of illegal online postings from the collected laptop of the female agent.[citation needed] This announcement, which took place three days before the election, was believed to have significantly affected the outcome of the presidential election according to the opposing party.[citation needed] After months of probes into the alleged election meddling, the prosecution concluded in mid-June 2013 that Won Sei-hoon, then NIS chief who headed the intelligence agency for around four years under former President Lee Myung-bak, ordered agents to conduct an online smear campaign against opposition presidential candidates.[citation needed] The special investigation drew a conclusion that the agents systemically intervened in domestic politics by writing thousands of postings on politics in cyberspace through hundreds of different user IDs.[citation needed] Kim Yong-pan, then chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), was prosecuted without physical detention on charges of abusing his authority to hamper police investigation into the case.[141] CCTV conversation between the computer analysts who were analyzing the laptop at police revealed that the police already knew there were illegal online postings against the opposing party's candidates, but the chief of SMPA publicly announced otherwise, an announcement that indicates intentional meddling into the presidential election.[citation needed]

The investigation and the trial at court are on-going, and Park faces a political blow.[citation needed] However, the leading Saenuri party along with government leaders has attempted to dodge its political fall-out.[citation needed] Their effort has involved tipping a rumor to a major conservative media, Chosun Ilbo, about an extramarital child of the Chae Dong-wook, former Prosecutor General, who has approved the prosecution of Won Se-hoon and Kim Yong-pan, which eventually led to his resignation.[142] Yoon Suk-ryul, the director of the special investigation team, which was leading the probe into the election meddling, was fired and returned to his original position, head of Yeoju branch Supreme Prosecutors Office. The investigation of his team has further revealed that the NIS is suspected of having posted 55,689 messages on Twitter for three months until the presidential election.[143]

Whether or not the election meddling of the NIS by way of online posts has actually affected the outcome of the presidential election is controversial.[citation needed] However, the false announcement by Kim Yong-pan, then chief of the SMPA, has appeared to do so.[citation needed] Had the police announced honestly, 14% of the electorate who voted for Park said they would have voted for Moon Jae-In, the first runner-up of the election.[144]

Lack of communication

Park has been criticized for holding press conferences with questions and answers submitted in advance. By 11 January 2015, she had held four press conferences since taking office in February 2013. Among the four press conferences, three of them were public speeches without questions and answers. Even in the remaining press conference, the questions were submitted in advance and she read prepared answers. Her opponents labeled her as "No communication" (불통, Bultong).[145][146]

November 2015 protests

On 15 November 2015, around 80,000 anti-government protesters clashed with government forces on the streets of Seoul, demanding that Park step down, with many of the protesters chanting "Park Geun-hye, step down". The rally was triggered by Park's adopting business-friendly labour policies and a decision to require middle and high schools to use only state-issued history textbooks in classes starting in 2017,[147] combined with plans to make labour markets more flexible by giving employers more leeway in dismissing workers. Security forces fired tear gas and sprayed water cannons into the crowd when protesters attempted to break through police barricades.[148]

Censorship

In the wake of the April 2014 capsizing of the Sewol ferry, public outcry arose over the government's handling of the situation. In response, the Park administration established a commission to monitor and prosecute social media critics of Park.[149]Tatsuya Kato, a Japanese journalist who was a Seoul Bureau chief of South Korea at Sankei Shimbun, was indicted on charges of defamation for reporting the relationship between Park and Choi Soon-sil's husband, Chung Yoon-hoi, by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea after the MV Sewol sank.[150][151]

Public Official Election Act

On 25 June 2015, Park said that "Betrayal which breaks the trust shouldn't be accepted in politics and this should be punished by election with people's own hands". This mention was aimed to Yu Seungmin who was a member of Saenuri Party. Her statement was criticized by professor Jo Guk and politician Moon Jae-in because it was intended to affect Yu's election, which is forbidden by the Public Official Election Act. However, the National Election Commission decided not to treat Park's mention as a violation of the Act.[152]

Comfort Women agreement

In 2015, Park reached an agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the comfort women issue. Japan apologized to former comfort women and provided 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) towards an assistance fund as terms of the agreement. The two governments agreed that the issue would be "irreversibly resolved". However, in 2017, Park's successor, President Moon Jae-in, stated that the deal was seriously flawed and unilaterally terminated it.[153]

Choi Soon-sil scandal and impeachment

Main article: 2016 South Korean political scandal
See also: Impeachment of Park Geun-hye
 
Park Geun-hye at a breakfast meeting with chaebol business magnates Lee Kun-hee and Chung Mong-koo

In late October 2016, investigations into Park's relationship with Choi Soon-sil, daughter of the late Church of Eternal Life cult leader and Park's mentor Choi Tae-min, began.[154][155] Several news media including JTBC and the Hankyoreh reported that Choi, who has no official government position, had access to confidential documents and information for the president, and acted as a close confidant for the president. Choi and Park's senior staff including both Ahn Jong-bum and Jeong Ho-sung used their influence to extort ₩77.4 billion (approximately $75 million) from Korean chaebols—family-owned large business conglomerates—and set up two culture and sports-related foundations, Mir and K-sports foundations.[156][157][158] Choi is also accused of having influenced Ewha Womans University to change their admission criteria in order for her daughter Chung Yoo-ra to be given a place there.[159] Ahn Jong-bum and Jeong Ho-sung, top presidential aides, were arrested for abuse of power and helping Choi; they denied wrongdoing and claimed that they were simply following President Park's orders.[160]

On 25 October 2016, Park publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi. On 28 October, Park dismissed key members of her top office staff while her approval ratings fell to 4%.[113] Her approval rating ranged from 1 to 3% for Korean citizens under 60 years of age, while it remained higher, at 13%, for the over-60 age group.[161] It was the worst ever approval rate in Korean history and is worse than the 6% approval rating of former President Kim Young-sam, who was widely blamed for forcing the Korean economy into the 1997 Asian financial crisis.[111][112][162] The controversy led to mass protests and rallies in October and November 2016 calling for her resignation.[163] On 12 November, more than 1 million citizens participated in the protests at Gwanghwamun Square close to the presidential residence demanding Park's resignation or impeachment.[164] On 19 November, another 1 million people participated in the national protest after Park refused to help in the investigation.[165][166]

 
Candlelight protest against Park Geun-hye in Seoul, 7 January 2017

Park then fired a number of her cabinet members and the prime minister. In particular, the sacking of the prime minister, Hwang Kyo-ahn, resulted in controversy, due to the claim that his firing was carried out via a text message.[167][168] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office of Korea (SPO), in laying charges against Choi and two former presidential aides, alleged that Park colluded with the three in certain criminal activities. The president would be questioned by prosecutors, the first time this has occurred with a serving South Korean president.[169][170][171] Following the scandal, there was a series of massive demonstrations that started in the first week of November 2016.[172] On 29 November 2016, Park offered to resign as president, and invited the National Assembly to arrange a transfer of power. The opposition parties rejected the offer, accusing Park of attempting to avoid the process of impeachment.[173]

The National Assembly instead filed a motion for impeachment, which was put to a vote on 9 December 2016[174] and passed with 234 supporters.[175][176][177] Due to the ratification of her impeachment proposal, her presidential powers and duties were suspended, and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn assumed those powers and duties as acting president.[5] Park was finally ousted from office by the Constitutional Court on 10 March 2017. The decision was unanimous, 8–0 in favour of the impeachment, as announced shortly thereafter.[178] On 26 March 2017, South Korean prosecutors announced they were seeking an arrest warrant against Park.[179] This warrant was granted by the Seoul Central District Court on 31 March 2017 and Park was arrested later that day, and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.[180][181]

Honours

Foreign honours

Electoral history

National Assembly races (1998 to present)

1998

15th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 1998 by-election, Dalseong, Daegu[182]
Party Candidate Votes %
Grand National Park Geun-hye 28,937 64
National Congress Eom Sam-tak 16,355 36
Total votes 45,292 100
Grand National hold

2000

16th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2000, Dalseong, Daegu[183]
Party Candidate Votes %
Grand National Park Geun-hye 37,805 61
Democratic Eom Sam-tak 23,744 38
Total votes 62,738 100
Grand National hold

2004

17th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2004, Dalseong, Daegu[183]
Party Candidate Votes %
Grand National Park Geun-hye 45,298 70
Uri Yun Yong-hui 15,014 23
Democratic Labor Heo Gyeong-do 4,367 7
Total votes 65,633 100
Grand National hold

2008

18th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2008, Dalseong, Daegu[184]
Party Candidate Votes %
Grand National Park Geun-hye 50,149 89
Democratic Labor No Yun-jo 5,080 9
PUFP Im Jung-heon 1,386 2
Total votes 57,416 100
Grand National hold

2012

19th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections, 2012, Proportional Representative[185][186]
Party Candidate Votes %
Saenuri Park Geun-hye 9,130,651 43
Saenuri hold

Presidential (2012)

CandidatePartyVotes%
Park Geun-hyeSaenuri Party15,773,12851.56
Moon Jae-inDemocratic United Party14,692,63248.02
Kang Ji-wonIndependent53,3030.17
Kim Soon-jaIndependent46,0170.15
Kim So-yeonIndependent16,6870.05
Park Jong-sunIndependent12,8540.04
Total30,594,621100.00
Valid votes30,594,62199.59
Invalid/blank votes126,8380.41
Total votes30,721,459100.00
Registered voters/turnout40,507,84275.84
Source: National Election Commission

Publications

Books

  • —— (July 2007). 절망은 나를 단련시키고 희망은 나를 움직인다 [Despair Trains Me and Hope Moves Me] (in Korean). Wisdom House. ISBN 978-89-6086-033-9.
  • —— (January 2001). 나의 어머니 육영수 [My mother, Yuk Young-soo] (in Korean). People&People. ISBN 978-89-85541-54-1.
  • —— (October 1998). 결국 한 줌, 결국 한 점 [In the End Only a Fistful, One Speck] (in Korean). Busan Ilbo Books. ISBN 978-89-87236-25-4.
  • —— (October 1998). 고난을 벗 삼아 진실을 등대삼아 [Befriending Adversity: Truth as the Guiding Light] (in Korean). Busan Ilbo Books. ISBN 978-89-87236-24-7.
  • —— (May 1995). 내 마음의 여정 [Journey of My Mind] (in Korean). Hansol Media. ISBN 978-89-85656-50-4.
  • —— (November 1993). 평범한 가정에 태어났더라면 [If I Were Born in an Ordinary Family] (in Korean). Nam Song. ISBN 9780307455628. OCLC 33010951.

Articles

  • "A New Kind of Korea: Building Trust Between Seoul and Pyongyang". Foreign Affairs. September–October 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2012.

See also

Explanatory footnotes

  1. ^ Her powers and duties suspended since 9 December 2016 by the National Assembly until final impeachment verdict on 10 March 2017.

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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Park Geun-hye.
Honorary titles
Preceded by First Lady of South Korea
Acting
16 August 1974 – 26 October 1979 		Succeeded by
Hong Gi
National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
Preceded by
Gim Suk-won
 Member of the National Assembly
from Dalseong County
3 April 1998 – 29 May 2012 		Succeeded by
Lee Jong-jin
Party political offices
Preceded by
Choe Byeong-ryeol
 Leader of the Grand National Party
23 March 2004 – 10 July 2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Leader of the Grand National Party Leader of the Saenuri Party
17 December 2011 – 15 May 2012 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by President of South Korea
25 February 2013–10 March 2017
(Suspended) 9 December 2016 – 10 March 2017 		Succeeded by

January 05, 2023
park, geun, this, korean, name, family, name, park, korean, 박근혜, geun, often, english, ɑːr, born, february, 1952, south, korean, politician, served, 11th, president, south, korea, from, 2013, 2017, until, impeached, convicted, related, corruption, charges, exc. In this Korean name the family name is Park Park Geun hye Korean 박근혜 RR Bak Geun hye IPA pak k ɯn hje often in English ˈ p ɑːr k ˌ ɡ ʊ n ˈ h eɪ born 2 February 1952 is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017 until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges Her ExcellencyPark Geun hye박근혜Official portrait 201311th President of South KoreaIn office 25 February 2013 10 March 2017 a Prime MinisterChung Hong wonLee Wan kooChoi Kyoung hwan acting Hwang Kyo ahnPreceded byLee Myung bakSucceeded byHwang Kyo ahn acting Moon Jae inLeader of the Grand National PartyIn office 23 March 2004 15 June 2006Preceded byChoi Byeong yulSucceeded byKim Yeong seon acting Leader of the Saenuri PartyIn office 19 December 2011 15 May 2012Preceded byHwang Woo yea acting Succeeded byHwang Woo yeaMember of the National AssemblyIn office 3 April 1998 29 May 2012Preceded byKim Suk wonSucceeded byLee Jong jinConstituencyDalseong Daegu In office 30 May 2012 10 December 2012ConstituencyProportional representationFirst Lady of South KoreaActingIn role 16 August 1974 26 October 1979PresidentPark Chung heePreceded byYuk Young sooSucceeded byHong GiPersonal detailsBorn 1952 02 02 2 February 1952 age 70 Daegu South KoreaPolitical partyIndependent 2017 present 1 Other politicalaffiliationsSaenuri until 2017 ParentsPark Chung hee father Yuk Young soo mother Residence s Seoul South KoreaAlma materSogang UniversitySignatureKorean nameHangul박근혜Revised RomanizationBak Geun hyeMcCune ReischauerPak KŭnhyePark was the first woman to be elected president of South Korea 2 and also the first female president popularly elected as head of state in East Asia She was also the first South Korean president to be born after the founding of South Korea Her father Park Chung hee was president from 1963 to 1979 serving five consecutive terms after he seized power in 1961 2 Before her presidency Park was leader of the conservative Grand National Party GNP from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Liberty Korea Party from 2011 to 2012 She was also a member of the National Assembly serving four consecutive parliamentary terms between 1998 and 2012 Park started her fifth term as a representative elected via national list in June 2012 In 2013 and 2014 Park ranked 11th on the Forbes list of the world s 100 most powerful women and the most powerful woman in East Asia 3 In 2014 she ranked 46th on the Forbes list of the world s most powerful people the third highest South Korean on the list after Lee Kun hee and Lee Jae yong On 9 December 2016 Park was impeached by the National Assembly on charges related to influence peddling by her top aide Choi Soon sil 4 Then Prime Minister Hwang Kyo ahn assumed her powers and duties as acting president as a result 5 The Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment by a unanimous 8 0 ruling on 10 March 2017 thereby removing Park from office making her the first Korean president to be so removed 6 On 6 April 2018 South Korean courts sentenced her to 24 years in prison later increased to 25 years for corruption and abuse of power 7 8 In 2018 two separate criminal cases resulted in an increase of seven years in Park s prison sentence She was found guilty of illegally taking off the book funds from the National Intelligence Service NIS and given a five year prison sentence and also found guilty of illegally interfering in the Saenuri Party primaries in the 2016 South Korean legislative election for which she was sentenced to two more years in prison 9 On 24 December 2021 it was announced that she would receive a pardon on compassionate grounds from South Korean President Moon Jae in She was released from prison on 31 December 10 and returned home three months later on 24 March 2022 11 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Political career 2 1 Assemblywoman 2 2 GNP chairwoman and Queen of Elections 2 3 2007 presidential bid 2 4 2008 general election 2 5 Head of Saenuri Party 2 6 2012 parliamentary election 2 7 2012 presidential campaign 2 8 Positions 3 Presidency 2013 17 3 1 Inauguration 3 2 First year February 2013 February 2014 3 2 1 Administrative philosophy 3 2 2 Government restructuring 3 2 3 Foreign policy 3 2 3 1 United States 3 2 3 2 North Korea 3 2 3 3 China 3 2 3 4 Russia 3 2 4 Economic policy 3 2 5 Social policy 3 2 6 National 3 3 Second year February 2014 February 2015 3 3 1 Foreign policy 3 3 1 1 North Korea 3 3 2 Government restructuring 3 4 Third year February 2015 February 2016 3 4 1 Foreign policy 3 4 1 1 China 3 5 Fourth and final year February 2016 March 2017 3 5 1 Foreign policy 3 5 1 1 Iran 3 5 2 2016 general elections 3 6 Approval ratings 4 Arrest detention pardon and post presidency 2017 present 4 1 Trial 4 2 Retrial and reduced sentence 4 3 Pardon and release from prison 5 Controversies 5 1 Parentage controversy 5 2 Bu il foundation accusations 5 3 Party criticism 5 4 Spokesman scandal 5 5 Election meddling scandal 5 6 Lack of communication 5 7 November 2015 protests 5 8 Censorship 5 9 Public Official Election Act 5 10 Comfort Women agreement 5 11 Choi Soon sil scandal and impeachment 6 Honours 6 1 Foreign honours 7 Electoral history 7 1 National Assembly races 1998 to present 7 1 1 1998 7 1 2 2000 7 1 3 2004 7 1 4 2008 7 1 5 2012 7 2 Presidential 2012 8 Publications 8 1 Books 8 2 Articles 9 See also 10 Explanatory footnotes 11 References 12 External linksEarly life and education EditPark Geun hye was born on 2 February 1952 in Samdeok dong of Jung District Daegu as the first child of Park Chung hee the third president of South Korea who having come to power with the May 16 military coup d etat of 1961 served from 1963 to 1979 and his wife First Lady Yuk Young soo Both of her parents were assassinated She has a younger brother Park Ji man and a younger sister Park Geun ryeong 12 She is unmarried with no children Pew Research Center described her as an atheist with a Buddhist and Roman Catholic upbringing 13 In 1953 Park s family moved to Seoul where she graduated from Jangchung Elementary School and Sungshim literal Sacred Heart Girls Middle and High School in 1970 going on to receive a bachelor s degree in electronic engineering from Sogang University in 1974 14 She briefly studied at Joseph Fourier University in France but left following the murder of her mother 15 Park s mother was killed on 15 August 1974 in the National Theater of Korea Mun Se gwang a Japanese born ethnic Korean sympathizer of North Korea and member of the Chongryon was attempting to assassinate her husband President Park Chung hee 16 Park Geun hye was regarded as First Lady until the assassination of her father by his intelligence chief Kim Jae gyu on 26 October 1979 17 18 19 During this time activists who were political opponents of Park s father claimed to be subject to arbitrary detention Further human rights were considered subordinate to economic development 20 In 2007 Park expressed regret at the treatment of activists during this period 21 Park received honorary doctoral degrees from the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan in 1987 Pukyong National University and KAIST in 2008 Sogang University in 2010 and TU Dresden in 2014 22 Political career EditAssemblywoman Edit Park was elected a Grand National Party GNP later the Liberty Korea Party or Saenuri Party assemblywoman for Dalseong County Daegu in the 1998 by election and three more times in the same electoral district between 1998 and 2008 being the incumbent assemblywoman till April 2012 In 2012 Park announced that she would not run for a constituency representative seat for the 19th election in Dalseong or anywhere else but for a proportional representative position for the Saenuri Party instead in order to lead the party s election campaign 23 She was elected as a proportional representative in the April 2012 election 24 25 GNP chairwoman and Queen of Elections Edit Due to the failed attempt to impeach President Roh Moo hyun and the bribery scandal of its 2002 presidential candidate Lee Hoi chang revealed in 2004 the GNP was facing a severe defeat in the 2004 general election Park was appointed as the chairwoman of the party and led the election efforts In the election the GNP lost its majority position but managed to gain 121 seats which was largely considered a great achievement under such inhospitable circumstances for the party 26 27 As the chairwoman of the GNP Park helped her party make significant gains in local elections and actually obtain a majority in 2006 During the campaign on 20 May 2006 Ji Chung ho a 50 year old man with eight criminal convictions slashed Park s face with a utility knife causing an 11 centimeter wound that required 60 stitches and several hours of surgery 28 29 A famous anecdote from this incident occurred when Park was hospitalized after the attack the first word that she said to her secretary after her recovery from her wound was How is Daejeon After this the GNP candidate in the Daejeon mayoral race won the election despite having trailed by more than 20 percentage points in opinion polls up to the point of the attack In addition during Park s term as the GNP chairwoman between 2004 and 2006 the party won all 40 reelections and by elections held which was largely credited to her influence and efforts This feat gave Park a nickname Queen of Elections 30 31 32 On 12 February 2007 Park made a much publicized visit to Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts United States Her visit culminated in an address to a packed audience at the John F Kennedy School of Government where she said she wanted to save Korea and advocated a stronger relationship between South Korea and the United States 33 34 2007 presidential bid Edit Park hoped to emulate her father s success by becoming the presidential nominee of the GNP 25 She eventually lost to Lee Myung bak by a narrow margin Lee had a commanding lead at the beginning of the primary season but Park was able to narrow the gap through allegations of Lee s corruption Park won the party members bid but she lost the national bid which is a larger percentage of the total presidential bid citation needed 2008 general election Edit After the 2007 presidential election President Lee Myung bak formed a government of mostly close supporters 35 Park s supporters argued that this was a kind of political reprisal and that they should secede from the GNP 36 Eventually they formed parties named Pro Park Coalition and Solidarity for Pro Park Independents 친박 무소속 연대 Chin Park Musosok Yeondae Park herself did not join them but indirectly supported them by announcing I hope these people will come back alive After the mass secession the rebels announced that they would rejoin the GNP after the general election but the party prohibited it In the following 2008 general election the rebels won 26 seats fourteen from the Pro Park Coalition and twelve as independents Together they played a pivotal role in the GNP s narrow majority Park continually insisted that the GNP should allow the return of her supporters As of 2011 most of these rebels had returned to the GNP resulting in approximately 50 to 60 assembly members who supported Park out of 171 in the GNP citation needed Head of Saenuri Party Edit In 2011 as a response to the dwindling approval rating of the GNP the party formed an emergency committee and changed its name to the Saenuri Party or New Frontier Party 23 On 19 December Park was appointed as the chairwoman of the emergency committee the de facto leader of the party citation needed 2012 parliamentary election Edit The Saenuri Party achieved a surprise win against the opposing Democratic United Party in the 2012 general election winning 152 seats and retaining its majority position Because of the corruption scandals of the Lee administration revealed before the election the party was widely expected to win no more than 100 seats 37 During the 13 day campaign period Park traveled about 7 200 km 4 500 mi around South Korea visiting more than 100 constituencies 38 It is the consensus of Korean news media and political experts that the most important factor leading to Saenuri Party s victory was Park s leadership For this reason the 2012 election was often dubbed the return of the Queen of Election 37 39 The party s defeat in the populous Seoul metropolitan area in this election however revealed the limitation of Park s political influence 37 2012 presidential campaign Edit Main article 2012 South Korean presidential election Park had been the leading candidate for the 2012 presidential election in every national poll in South Korea between 2008 when the Lee administration began and September 2011 with an approval rating of 25 to 45 more than twice that of the second candidate Park s approval rating was highest during the 2008 general election showed her strong influence and lowest in early 2010 as a result of her political stance against the Lee administration in Sejong City issue 40 Park also benefited from a public image of standing aloofly above the fray of politics 41 In September 2011 Ahn Cheol soo a former venture IT businessman and the Dean of Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University emerged as a strong independent candidate for the presidency In national presidential polls in September 2011 Ahn and Park closely competed for the status of frontrunner with Park losing the top seat in some polls for the first time since 2008 42 On 10 July 2012 Park formally announced her presidential bid at the Time Square Yeongdeungpo District Seoul In this event she emphasized the right to pursue happiness a democratic economy and customized welfare services for the Korean people 43 In a national survey by Mono Research on 30 August 44 Park was the top presidential candidate with an approval rating of 45 5 when competing with all potential candidates and according to another recent national survey result had a higher approval rating 50 6 than Ahn 43 9 in a two way competition as of 11 September 45 The opposing Democratic Party of Korea elected Moon Jae in as its presidential candidate on 17 September while Ahn announced his presidential bid on 19 September Although still a leading candidate Park had a lower approval rating than both Ahn and Moon when engaged in two way competition according to a 22 September national survey 46 Park was elected as president of the Republic of Korea on 19 December 2012 with the approval of 51 6 of Korean voters 47 In 2017 the National Intelligence Service NIS admitted that it had conducted an illicit campaign to influence the 2012 presidential election mobilizing teams of experts in psychological warfare to ensure that Park defeated Moon 48 Positions Edit Park center smiles and shows a portrait drawn by a girl in Cheong Wa Dae Seoul at Children s Day 5 May 2013 In a 2012 survey by Korean Research assessing the political stance of twelve potential presidential candidates of South Korea Park was considered the most conservative candidate 23 49 Her conservative market oriented political stance was well reflected in her campaign pledge for 2008 presidential bid to cut taxes reduce regulation and establish strong law and order 50 Since 2009 however Park started to focus more on welfare issues advocating customized welfare services to the Korean people 50 Park was well known for her strict adherence to political promises In 2010 for example she successfully stopped the Lee administration s attempt to cancel the plan to establish Sejong City a new national center of administration arguing that the plan was a promise made to the people This conflict between Park and the Lee administration cost her a considerable decrease in her approval rating at the time 51 In 2012 Park also vowed to construct a new airport in the southeastern region a 2008 presidential campaign promise made by GNP but cancelled in 2011 despite claims of economic infeasibility of the plan 52 The administrative vision of Park s new government was a new era of hope and happiness The five Administrative Goals of the government were a jobs centered creative economy tailored employment and welfare creativity oriented education and cultural enrichment a safe and united society and strong security measures for sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula The Park Geun hye administration planned to create a trustworthy clean and capable government by carrying out these goals related strategies and tasks 53 Park chose not to vote in the 2017 South Korean presidential election 54 Presidency 2013 17 EditInauguration Edit President Park on inauguration day 25 February 2013 Park became the 11th president of South Korea on 25 February 2013 At midnight she took over all presidential authorities including the prerogative of supreme command of South Korea s armed forces from her predecessor Lee Myung bak In her inauguration speech at the National Assembly building Park spoke of her plan to open a new era of hope through economic prosperity people s happiness and cultural enrichment She particularly expressed her hope that North Korea would give up its nuclear arms and walk on the path of peace and mutual development and declared that the foundation for a happy era of unification in which all Korean people will be able to enjoy prosperity and freedom and realize their dreams would be built through the Korean Peninsula Trust building Process In her inauguration speech Park presented four guiding principles to realize her administrative vision economic prosperity people s happiness cultural enrichment and establishment of a foundation for peaceful unification 55 Park s inauguration ceremony was the largest one in South Korean history with 70 000 participants Diplomatic representatives in Korea as well as high level delegates specially sent from 24 countries around the world including Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra U S National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Wang Jin pyng and former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda also participated in the event to congratulate Park 56 57 First year February 2013 February 2014 Edit Administrative philosophy Edit The goal of the newly launched Park Geun hye Administration for governing state affairs was to open a new era of hope and happiness for all the people Park avowed that South Korea would break away from its long pursued development model that centered around the nation and shift the focus of government administration from the state to individual citizens Through this process the structure of co prosperity would be created in which citizens became happy and national development occurred as a result Park s administrative vision and basic principles for governing the nation were concretely outlined in her policy plans for the economy society welfare diplomacy and unification The administration s keywords in managing state affairs were people happiness trust co prosperity and principle 58 Government restructuring Edit Right after taking office Park restructured the Blue House and government organization to carry out her administrative vision The Office of National Security at the Blue House Ministry of Science ICT and Future Planning and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries were newly launched and the seat of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs was revived The Chief of the National Security Office would act as a control tower for diplomatic security and national defense issues and the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs for economic social and welfare issues 59 Foreign policy Edit United States Edit Park Geun hye at a bilateral meeting with U S President Barack Obama on 7 May 2013 After taking office Park met with John Kerry and U S President Barack Obama Park s trip to the United States in May 2013 was her first foreign trip after taking office 60 Like many of her predecessors Park maintained a close relationship with the U S which has over 20 000 soldiers stationed in South Korea During her visit to the U S she addressed a joint session of the U S Congress where she called for a united front against any North Korean provocations Park also called for a strong global relationship between South Korea and the United States 61 Park assessed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and emphasized that deterrence capabilities were the most important factor for security Thus Park considered the American South Korean alliance as the most successful one in the world She hoped the American South Korean relationship can be upgraded from a comprehensive strategic alliance to a global partnership 62 Park visited the United States on her first overseas trip as president She traveled to Washington D C New York City and Los Angeles on 5 9 May 2013 63 During summit talks in May at the White House Presidents Park and Obama adopted a joint declaration for the American South Korean alliance and discussed ways to further develop the bilateral relations in a future forward manner Also two leaders discussed ways to promote cooperation in building peace in the Northeast Asian region and strength the partnership between Seoul and Washington 64 The two leaders of South Korea and the United States agreed to adopt a joint statement on comprehensive energy cooperation to build a foundation for a future growth engine and establish a policy cooperation committee on information and communication technology In addition Park urged her U S counterpart to expand the annual U S visa quota for South Korean professionals in order to promote co development of both economies 64 In particular the Joint declaration in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America adopted by South Korea and the United States will become a meaningful document looking back at the past six decades of the alliance and spelling out a new direction for the development of bilateral relations over the coming decade 65 North Korea Edit North Korea had engaged in provocations such as violating a UN Security Council resolution and firing a long range missile on 12 December 2012 just before 19 December presidential election After Park was elected North Korea conducted its third nuclear test 12 February 2013 nullified the non aggression agreements between the two countries on 8 March and withdrew North Korean workers from the Kaesong Industrial Complex on 8 April 66 Park maintained her stance that South Korea will not succumb to the North s provocations and threats and will endeavor to elicit policy coordination towards North Korea with major powers such as the United States China and the UN 67 Her response to North Korean issues gained the support of many South Koreans and also the United States China and Russia and played a significant role in the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2094 regarding North Korea on 7 March 2013 68 Due to Park s response and the international community s actions on 6 June North Korea ceased provocations and threats towards the South and suggested holding discussions on reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex 69 Park said that peace and unification on the Korean peninsula is the wish of all 70 million Koreans and that as president she will do her utmost to meet such a goal As well the ultimate objective of reunification efforts is to improve the quality of life of people in both Koreas to further expand freedom and human rights and from there build a prosperous Korean Peninsula 70 She later stated to open a new era of peace and hope on the peninsula North Korea needs to accept her administration s trust building policy initiative 71 72 Park s policy vision and initiative on issues concerning North Korea and unification are reflected in her Korean Peninsula Trust building Process The Ministry of Unification has announced a new vision statement realizing a new unified Korea that ensures everyone s happiness The administrative tasks for this cause include normalizing inter Korean relations through a trust building process embarking on small scale unification projects that will lead to a complete integration of the two Koreas and taking practical measures to prepare for unification by strengthening unification capabilities 73 According to Park peaceful unification will be achieved in a three stage unification initiative starting from securing peace going through economic integration and finally reaching political integration To achieve sustainable peace by the initiative the new administration will offer humanitarian assistance for the people in North Korea inter Korean exchange and cooperation in economic social and cultural areas and will apply Vision Korea project for establishing a single economic community in the Korean Peninsula conditioned on sufficient mutual trust and progress in denuclearizing North Korea 74 China Edit Park Geun hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping Beijing 27 June 2013 On 27 30 June 2013 Park visited China with a South Korean delegation where she met with Xi Jinping the Chinese president During the meetings Park explained the government s stance on North Korea and gained his support 75 Russia Edit On 13 November 2013 Park held an extended meeting with President Vladimir Putin whose visit to South Korea was the first among leaders of four major powers including the United States China and Japan During the meeting Park and Putin had a comprehensive and productive dialogue with a focus on improving economic relations such as logistics cooperation projects through Russia and North Korea expanding people to people exchanges and strengthening political ties between South Korea and Russia Park especially emphasized on making preparations to produce an outcome that corresponds to common interests by combining Korea s Eurasian Initiative and Russia s Asia Pacific Policy After the summit both presidents issued a joint communique and held a joint press conference 76 77 Earlier Park attended the G 20 Summit in September 2013 at St Petersburg where she met Putin for a separate dialogue discussing economic cooperation and seeking support on North Korean issues It marked the first Korea Russia summit talk since Park s inauguration 78 When Park met with Russian Minister for the Development of Russian Far East Viktor Ishaev who headed the Russian delegation to Park s inaugural ceremony she stated that Russia is one of Korea s key strategic partners and the successful launch of the Naro rocket is the outcome of mutually beneficial relations and demonstrates that relations will grow stronger in the future She also noted that Russia s active participation in the six party talks will contribute to alleviating tension on the Korean Peninsula 79 Economic policy Edit Park delivering the keynote speech during an economic policy meeting on 27 December at the Sejong Government Complex Park announced her plan to build a Creative Economy on 5 June 2013 representing her vision for economic revival and job creation 80 In April Park said Timing is very important for our economic policy jobs and livelihood mainly ordinary people should organize a supplementary budget in a timely manner 81 She encouraged the gig economy 82 On 8 April 2014 Park signed the Australia Korea Free Trade Agreement with Australia s Prime Minister Tony Abbott 83 Social policy Edit Park proposed the eradication of Four Major Social Evils 사 대회악 sa dae hwe ak sexual violence domestic violence school violence and unsafe food Statistics show that sexual violence and domestic violence are increasing in these years Without referring to statistical data aggravating school violence or food safety is a public concern in South Korea 84 85 She also launched the National Unity Committee on 17 June with the purpose to advise the president in the process of resolving various conflicts in South Korean society and establishing a culture of co existence and co prosperity Former Democratic United Party Advisor Han Kwang ok was named as the head 86 National Edit On 18 May 2013 Park attended the 33rd anniversary of the Gwangju massacre and expressed sorrow for the victims family members 87 Second year February 2014 February 2015 Edit Park Geun hye and U S President Barack Obama 25 April 2014 Foreign policy Edit North Korea Edit Park proposed three steps to North Korea to help move toward the reunification of the Korean Peninsula on 28 March in Dresden during her state visit to Germany 88 She stated that Starting with jointly managing rivers and forests running through the two Koreas we need to expand joint projects that benefit both sides In that respect I hope North Korea will attend the UN Convention on Biological Diversity conference to be held in South Korean city of Pyeongchang in October 89 In May 2014 Park warned that a new nuclear test by North Korea could lead to a nuclear domino effect that might provide its neighbors with a pretext to arm themselves with nuclear weapons 90 Government restructuring Edit On 18 May 2014 Park announced South Korea s plans to break up its coastguard after failing to respond well during the MV Sewol ferry disaster 91 According to Park investigation and information roles would be transferred to the South Korea National Police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles would be transferred to the Department for National Safety not to be confused with the Korean Ministry of Security and Public Administration which will be newly established 92 On 19 November 2014 the Korea Coast Guard and National Emergency Management Agency ceased control as the Ministry of Public Safety and Security was founded at the same day 93 Third year February 2015 February 2016 Edit Foreign policy Edit Park meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN India Summit China Edit On 26 May 2015 Park urged the head of the Asian Development Bank to cooperate with South Korea and the China led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 94 after South Korea had officially applied to join the Chinese led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in late March 2015 95 Fourth and final year February 2016 March 2017 Edit Foreign policy Edit Iran Edit Park Geun hye being welcomed by Iran s business minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh in Mehrabad Airport On 1 May 2016 Park became the first South Korean president to visit Iran 96 97 She was at the head of a 236 member delegation of businessmen and entrepreneurs during a three day visit to Tehran to discuss bilateral trade and other matters of mutual interest 98 She met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and held talks with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei citation needed The two countries also signed 19 basic agreements to expand mutual cooperation over a variety of areas citation needed Earlier Iran s President Rouhani emphasized that Iran and South Korea are set to boost their trade volume from the current 6 billion to 18 billion citation needed 2016 general elections Edit Park suffered a serious setback in the 2016 general elections on 13 April 2016 as the Saenuri Party lost both its majority and its status as first party in the National Assembly 99 Park had been criticized for her involvement in the elections and the party s nomination process 100 101 and other Saenuri members blamed the pro Park faction in the party for the defeat 102 Park loyalists fared badly in constituency elections 103 The result was seen to hinder the chances of Park s passing her proposed economic reforms 104 and in the aftermath of the results the conservative The Chosun Ilbo stated that Park s lame duck period has started earlier than any other administration in the past 105 Approval ratings Edit Park Geun hye s Presidential Job Approval Rating Approval ratings by age In July 2013 public support for Park s method of governing state affairs reached up to 63 percent higher than the percentage of the votes she had won in the presidential election which was 52 percent 106 The Korean media suggested that such a high level of support came from Park s principled North Korea policy constructive outcomes from visits to the United States and China and distancing from internal political disputes 107 By January 2015 Park s approval rating had fallen to 30 percent partly due to the sinking of MV Sewol and disputes with North Korea 108 By September 2015 Park s approval had increased to 54 percent due to her diplomacy that defused a military standoff with North Korea 109 but in the aftermath of her party s 2016 election loss her ratings fell to 31 5 percent plunging 8 1 percentage points compared to the week before the election 110 On 4 November 2016 Park s ratings fell to 4 5 as details of her relationship with Choi Soon sil were investigated and exposed in what became the 2016 South Korean political scandal 111 112 113 Arrest detention pardon and post presidency 2017 present EditPark was arrested on 31 March 2017 and held in pre trial detention at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang Gyeonggi Province 114 115 On 17 April 2017 Park was formally charged with abuse of power bribery coercion and leaking government secrets 116 Park denied the charges during five rounds of interrogation while in prison 116 117 118 Trial Edit Prosecutors sought a 30 year prison term for Park along with a fine of 188 5 billion US 110 579 397 On 6 April 2018 a three judge panel of the Central District Court in Seoul sentenced Park to 24 years in prison and a fine of 18 billion US 16 798 683 finding her guilty of 16 out of 18 charges brought before her 119 120 121 122 In June 2018 three former NIS directors Lee Byung kee Lee Byung ho and Nam Jae joon who served in the Park administration were found guilty of bribing related to the 2016 Park Geun hye scandals They illegally transferred money from the NIS budget to Park s presidential office This illegally obtained money was used by Park and her associates for private use and to pay bribes 123 On 24 August 2018 Park s sentence was increased to 25 years in prison 8 Retrial and reduced sentence Edit In July 2020 an appellate court reduced Park s prison sentence to 20 years after a retrial taking into account that she received little personal benefit from her offences and Park was also cleared of charges of alleged extortion from conglomerates paying donations to foundations of Choi Soon sil 124 125 In January 2021 South Korea s top court upheld the 20 year prison sentence bringing an end to the legal process 126 Pardon and release from prison Edit On 24 December 2021 it was announced that Park would receive a pardon from South Korean President Moon Jae in 10 In his pardon President Moon cited Park s deteriorating health and the needs to overcome unfortunate past history and promote national unity as reasons for the pardon 127 On 31 December she was released from prison 127 returning home three months later on 24 March 2022 11 Controversies EditParentage controversy Edit Park had been often criticized for being the daughter of a dictator Park Chung hee 128 129 and by supporters of Lee Myung bak for not actively supporting the Lee administration A national level poll conducted in July 2012 by a conservative newspaper reported that 59 of participants responded they did not believe Park was a daughter of a dictator while 36 agreed with the characterization 130 Park Chung Hee s status as a dictator became a contested topic after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis GNP party elites saw this as their chance to revitalize Park Chung Hee s image focusing on South Korea s economic growth during his administration thus steadily changing his public perception 131 During a 2012 interview with the Cheongju broadcast station CJB Park commented regarding her stance that her father s May 16 coup was a revolution to save the country by stating I don t think it s the place of politicians to be fighting over whether the events of 1961 were a coup d etat or a revolution 132 In a July 2012 survey 50 of respondents answered that they disagreed with Park s assessment that her father s 1961 coup was unavoidable the best possible choice and an advisable decision as opposed to 37 that agreed 133 From another survey conducted in July 2012 42 of respondents agreed with her opinion that her father s 1961 coup was unavoidable while 46 disagreed 134 Because Park inherited strong regional and generational support from her father as well as the legacy of his economic success Park s opponents used her father as criticism against her 131 Bu il foundation accusations Edit Park has faced much scrutiny over an educational foundation Jeongsoo Scholarship Foundation formerly known as Buil in reference to the stock it controls in the newspaper Busan Ilbo which her father and later she headed Its original owners claimed in court they were forced to turn it over to her father 135 Party criticism Edit Liberty Korea Party assemblyman Nam Kyung pil criticized the Park centered nature of the party regarding its preparation for the 2012 presidential election and stated If we keep seeing the same situation where Park Geun hye gives a press conference before a general meeting of lawmakers is held and what she says then gets decided on as the party s position then the public is going to think democracy has disappeared from the party 136 Furthermore some have said Park s behavior in the lead up to 2012 presidential election was a mixture of trend following and corner cutting a stark contrast with the vehement insistence on the principle that she showed when she opposed a revision of the plan for a multifunctional administrative city in Sejong City For instance Yim Tae hee another presidential candidate of the party pointed to Park s voting down of a motion to arrest Chung Doo un a lawmaker implicated with bribery related to saving banks Another candidate Ahn Sang soo accused Park of saying one thing yesterday and another today 136 Spokesman scandal Edit Further information Yoon Chang jung Park fired Yoon Chang jung a Blue House spokesman who was alleged by Washington police to have committed sexual assault against a young woman hired as an intern at the South Korean Embassy in Washington during Park s first visit to the United States 137 Park has been criticized for picking the wrong people for senior government posts 138 Election meddling scandal Edit Main article 2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal This section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information November 2016 Just a week before the presidential election date the opposing party alleged that the public servants from National Intelligence Service NIS have organized to promote Park s election campaign by way of posting online articles favorable to Park and slanderous to the opposing candidates citation needed This political behavior by public servants is strictly prohibited by Korean Constitution 139 To prove their allegation the opposing Democratic Party along with the police and Central Election Assistance Commission swooped in the house where the alleged agent of NIS has resided citation needed From there the 29 year old female agent later known as Ha Young Kim who was running an illegal online election campaign operation such as spreading slanderous postings about the opposing candidate had locked herself in citation needed The police could not force to enter the house and the standoff lasted for three days provoking a tense political standoff citation needed The opposition accused the intelligence service of blocking an investigation citation needed Park and her party accused the opposition of harassing the woman 140 Park even said the standoff of the self lock in was a violation of a female right in the presidential candidate debate that took place three days before the election citation needed Later that night of the presidential debate Kim Yong pan then the chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency publicly announced there was no evidence of illegal online postings from the collected laptop of the female agent citation needed This announcement which took place three days before the election was believed to have significantly affected the outcome of the presidential election according to the opposing party citation needed After months of probes into the alleged election meddling the prosecution concluded in mid June 2013 that Won Sei hoon then NIS chief who headed the intelligence agency for around four years under former President Lee Myung bak ordered agents to conduct an online smear campaign against opposition presidential candidates citation needed The special investigation drew a conclusion that the agents systemically intervened in domestic politics by writing thousands of postings on politics in cyberspace through hundreds of different user IDs citation needed Kim Yong pan then chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency SMPA was prosecuted without physical detention on charges of abusing his authority to hamper police investigation into the case 141 CCTV conversation between the computer analysts who were analyzing the laptop at police revealed that the police already knew there were illegal online postings against the opposing party s candidates but the chief of SMPA publicly announced otherwise an announcement that indicates intentional meddling into the presidential election citation needed The investigation and the trial at court are on going and Park faces a political blow citation needed However the leading Saenuri party along with government leaders has attempted to dodge its political fall out citation needed Their effort has involved tipping a rumor to a major conservative media Chosun Ilbo about an extramarital child of the Chae Dong wook former Prosecutor General who has approved the prosecution of Won Se hoon and Kim Yong pan which eventually led to his resignation 142 Yoon Suk ryul the director of the special investigation team which was leading the probe into the election meddling was fired and returned to his original position head of Yeoju branch Supreme Prosecutors Office The investigation of his team has further revealed that the NIS is suspected of having posted 55 689 messages on Twitter for three months until the presidential election 143 Whether or not the election meddling of the NIS by way of online posts has actually affected the outcome of the presidential election is controversial citation needed However the false announcement by Kim Yong pan then chief of the SMPA has appeared to do so citation needed Had the police announced honestly 14 of the electorate who voted for Park said they would have voted for Moon Jae In the first runner up of the election 144 Lack of communication Edit Park has been criticized for holding press conferences with questions and answers submitted in advance By 11 January 2015 she had held four press conferences since taking office in February 2013 Among the four press conferences three of them were public speeches without questions and answers Even in the remaining press conference the questions were submitted in advance and she read prepared answers Her opponents labeled her as No communication 불통 Bultong 145 146 November 2015 protests Edit On 15 November 2015 around 80 000 anti government protesters clashed with government forces on the streets of Seoul demanding that Park step down with many of the protesters chanting Park Geun hye step down The rally was triggered by Park s adopting business friendly labour policies and a decision to require middle and high schools to use only state issued history textbooks in classes starting in 2017 147 combined with plans to make labour markets more flexible by giving employers more leeway in dismissing workers Security forces fired tear gas and sprayed water cannons into the crowd when protesters attempted to break through police barricades 148 Censorship Edit In the wake of the April 2014 capsizing of the Sewol ferry public outcry arose over the government s handling of the situation In response the Park administration established a commission to monitor and prosecute social media critics of Park 149 Tatsuya Kato a Japanese journalist who was a Seoul Bureau chief of South Korea at Sankei Shimbun was indicted on charges of defamation for reporting the relationship between Park and Choi Soon sil s husband Chung Yoon hoi by the Supreme Prosecutors Office of the Republic of Korea after the MV Sewol sank 150 151 Public Official Election Act Edit On 25 June 2015 Park said that Betrayal which breaks the trust shouldn t be accepted in politics and this should be punished by election with people s own hands This mention was aimed to Yu Seungmin who was a member of Saenuri Party Her statement was criticized by professor Jo Guk and politician Moon Jae in because it was intended to affect Yu s election which is forbidden by the Public Official Election Act However the National Election Commission decided not to treat Park s mention as a violation of the Act 152 Comfort Women agreement Edit In 2015 Park reached an agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the comfort women issue Japan apologized to former comfort women and provided 1 billion yen 8 8 million towards an assistance fund as terms of the agreement The two governments agreed that the issue would be irreversibly resolved However in 2017 Park s successor President Moon Jae in stated that the deal was seriously flawed and unilaterally terminated it 153 Choi Soon sil scandal and impeachment Edit Main article 2016 South Korean political scandal See also Impeachment of Park Geun hye Park Geun hye at a breakfast meeting with chaebol business magnates Lee Kun hee and Chung Mong koo In late October 2016 investigations into Park s relationship with Choi Soon sil daughter of the late Church of Eternal Life cult leader and Park s mentor Choi Tae min began 154 155 Several news media including JTBC and the Hankyoreh reported that Choi who has no official government position had access to confidential documents and information for the president and acted as a close confidant for the president Choi and Park s senior staff including both Ahn Jong bum and Jeong Ho sung used their influence to extort 77 4 billion approximately 75 million from Korean chaebols family owned large business conglomerates and set up two culture and sports related foundations Mir and K sports foundations 156 157 158 Choi is also accused of having influenced Ewha Womans University to change their admission criteria in order for her daughter Chung Yoo ra to be given a place there 159 Ahn Jong bum and Jeong Ho sung top presidential aides were arrested for abuse of power and helping Choi they denied wrongdoing and claimed that they were simply following President Park s orders 160 On 25 October 2016 Park publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi On 28 October Park dismissed key members of her top office staff while her approval ratings fell to 4 113 Her approval rating ranged from 1 to 3 for Korean citizens under 60 years of age while it remained higher at 13 for the over 60 age group 161 It was the worst ever approval rate in Korean history and is worse than the 6 approval rating of former President Kim Young sam who was widely blamed for forcing the Korean economy into the 1997 Asian financial crisis 111 112 162 The controversy led to mass protests and rallies in October and November 2016 calling for her resignation 163 On 12 November more than 1 million citizens participated in the protests at Gwanghwamun Square close to the presidential residence demanding Park s resignation or impeachment 164 On 19 November another 1 million people participated in the national protest after Park refused to help in the investigation 165 166 Candlelight protest against Park Geun hye in Seoul 7 January 2017 Park then fired a number of her cabinet members and the prime minister In particular the sacking of the prime minister Hwang Kyo ahn resulted in controversy due to the claim that his firing was carried out via a text message 167 168 The Supreme Prosecutors Office of Korea SPO in laying charges against Choi and two former presidential aides alleged that Park colluded with the three in certain criminal activities The president would be questioned by prosecutors the first time this has occurred with a serving South Korean president 169 170 171 Following the scandal there was a series of massive demonstrations that started in the first week of November 2016 172 On 29 November 2016 Park offered to resign as president and invited the National Assembly to arrange a transfer of power The opposition parties rejected the offer accusing Park of attempting to avoid the process of impeachment 173 The National Assembly instead filed a motion for impeachment which was put to a vote on 9 December 2016 174 and passed with 234 supporters 175 176 177 Due to the ratification of her impeachment proposal her presidential powers and duties were suspended and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo ahn assumed those powers and duties as acting president 5 Park was finally ousted from office by the Constitutional Court on 10 March 2017 The decision was unanimous 8 0 in favour of the impeachment as announced shortly thereafter 178 On 26 March 2017 South Korean prosecutors announced they were seeking an arrest warrant against Park 179 This warrant was granted by the Seoul Central District Court on 31 March 2017 and Park was arrested later that day and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison 180 181 Honours Edit South Korea Recipient of the Grand Order of MugunghwaForeign honours Edit Austria Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria Peru Grand Cross of Order of the Sun of Peru United Kingdom Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath GCB 2013 Electoral history EditNational Assembly races 1998 to present Edit 1998 Edit 15th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections 1998 by election Dalseong Daegu 182 Party Candidate Votes Grand National Park Geun hye 28 937 64National Congress Eom Sam tak 16 355 36Total votes 45 292 100Grand National hold2000 Edit 16th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections 2000 Dalseong Daegu 183 Party Candidate Votes Grand National Park Geun hye 37 805 61Democratic Eom Sam tak 23 744 38Total votes 62 738 100Grand National hold2004 Edit 17th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections 2004 Dalseong Daegu 183 Party Candidate Votes Grand National Park Geun hye 45 298 70Uri Yun Yong hui 15 014 23Democratic Labor Heo Gyeong do 4 367 7Total votes 65 633 100Grand National hold2008 Edit 18th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections 2008 Dalseong Daegu 184 Party Candidate Votes Grand National Park Geun hye 50 149 89Democratic Labor No Yun jo 5 080 9PUFP Im Jung heon 1 386 2Total votes 57 416 100Grand National hold2012 Edit 19th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea elections 2012 Proportional Representative 185 186 Party Candidate Votes Saenuri Park Geun hye 9 130 651 43Saenuri holdPresidential 2012 Edit CandidatePartyVotes Park Geun hyeSaenuri Party15 773 12851 56Moon Jae inDemocratic United Party14 692 63248 02Kang Ji wonIndependent53 3030 17Kim Soon jaIndependent46 0170 15Kim So yeonIndependent16 6870 05Park Jong sunIndependent12 8540 04Total30 594 621100 00Valid votes30 594 62199 59Invalid blank votes126 8380 41Total votes30 721 459100 00Registered voters turnout40 507 84275 84Source National Election CommissionPublications EditBooks Edit July 2007 절망은 나를 단련시키고 희망은 나를 움직인다 Despair Trains Me and Hope Moves Me in Korean Wisdom House ISBN 978 89 6086 033 9 January 2001 나의 어머니 육영수 My mother Yuk Young soo in Korean People amp People ISBN 978 89 85541 54 1 October 1998 결국 한 줌 결국 한 점 In the End Only a Fistful One Speck in Korean Busan Ilbo Books ISBN 978 89 87236 25 4 October 1998 고난을 벗 삼아 진실을 등대삼아 Befriending Adversity Truth as the Guiding Light in Korean Busan Ilbo Books ISBN 978 89 87236 24 7 May 1995 내 마음의 여정 Journey of My Mind in Korean Hansol Media ISBN 978 89 85656 50 4 November 1993 평범한 가정에 태어났더라면 If I Were Born in an Ordinary Family in Korean Nam Song ISBN 9780307455628 OCLC 33010951 Articles Edit A New Kind of Korea Building Trust Between Seoul and Pyongyang Foreign Affairs September October 2011 Retrieved 14 August 2012 See also Edit South Korea portalPolitics of South KoreaExplanatory footnotes Edit Her powers and duties suspended since 9 December 2016 by the National Assembly until final impeachment verdict on 10 March 2017 References Edit 한국당 1호 당원 박근혜 출당조치 20년 관계 청산 Hangook party excludes 1 partisan Park Geun hye settlement of 20 years of relationship Yonhap News 3 November 2017 Retrieved 3 November 2017 a b Demick Barbara Choi Jung yoon 19 December 2012 South Korea elects first female president Los Angeles Times ISSN 0458 3035 Retrieved 18 November 2016 The 25 Most Powerful Women in the World Forbes Retrieved 16 June 2014 Choe Sang hun 9 December 2016 South Korea Parliament Votes to Impeach President Park Geun hye The New York Times Retrieved 9 December 2016 a b Park names Justice Minister Hwang Kyo ahn as new PM Yonhap 21 May 2015 Retrieved 21 May 2015 Sang hun Choe 9 March 2017 South Korea Removes President Park Geun hye The New York Times Retrieved 10 March 2017 Park Geun hye South Korea s ex leader jailed for 24 years for corruption BBC News 6 April 2018 a b South Korean court raises ex president Park s jail term to 25 years Reuters 24 August 2018 Appellate court reduces former President Park s sentence in spy agency fund case en yna co kr 25 July 2019 Retrieved 26 September 2019 a b Choe Sang Hun 23 December 2021 South Korea to Pardon Ex President Park Geun hye Imprisoned for Corruption The New York Times a b Shin Hyonhee 24 March 2022 South Korea s disgraced ex president Park returns home after prison Reuters Retrieved 25 March 2022 Candidacy of ruling party leader s sister gets cold shoulder The Korea Herald 18 March 2012 6 facts about South Korea s growing Christian population 12 August 2014 profile Hannara Party Vice Chairwoman Park Geun hye YONHAP NEWS AGENCY 31 May 2000 Harlan Chico 25 January 2013 South Korea s new leader Park Geun hye was pushed onto political stage by tragedy The Washington Post Retrieved 8 April 2018 8 15대통령저격사건 八一五大統領狙擊事件 15 August President assassination attempt incident in Korean Doopedia 두산백과 Retrieved 13 May 2012 Profile South Korean President Park Geun hye BBC News 10 March 2017 Retrieved 3 January 2018 Some said the association with her father and her experience as first lady helped cement her win by overcoming prejudices among male voters Weiner Tim Legacy of Ashes The History of CIA New York June 2007 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 20 October 2016 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Weiner Tim 2008 Weiner Tim Legacy of Ashes The History of CIA New York June 2007 ISBN 978 0307389008 C I Eugene Kim April 1978 Emergency Development and Human Rights South Korea Asian Survey 18 4 363 78 doi 10 2307 2643400 JSTOR 2643400 Park Calls 1961 Coup Revolution to Save Nation KBS news 19 July 2009 Archived from the original on 25 December 2007 Retrieved 13 May 2012 She apologized for the sufferings and sacrifices of pro democracy activists under the constitutional system which was effective between 1972 and 1979 TU Dresden awards President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun hye honorary doctorate 31 March 2014 Retrieved 15 June 2016 a b c Guray Geoffrey Lou 19 December 2012 South Korea Elects First Female President Who Is She PBS NewsHour Retrieved 17 October 2015 Chung Min uck 20 March 2013 Saenuri names proportional representatives Korea Times Retrieved 7 April 2018 a b Fackler Martin 20 April 2012 In a Rowdy Democracy a Dictator s Daughter With an Unsoiled Aura The New York Times Retrieved 7 April 2018 총선 D 1 승패기준 영남승부 관심 General election D 1 outcome standard attention on fight in Yeong nam area 10 April 2012 Retrieved 16 October 2015 박의래 Ue rae Park 8 April 2012 증시閑담 총선 결과에 촉각 세우는 주식시장 Stock market leisurely 閑 Stock market waiting for result of general election Retrieved 16 October 2015 Joint Probe into Attack on GNP Chairwoman Arirang News 22 May 2006 Retrieved 16 May 2012 Gim Yi sak 김이삭 Chung Min seung 정민승 21 May 2006 박근혜대표 유세장서 피습 중상 GNP leader Park Geun hye attacked during campaign Hankook Ilbo in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 홍종성 Jong sung Hong 25 May 2006 대전 박근혜 생각하면 결심이 흔들려요 Dae jeon Thinking of Park Geun hye shakes my determination Kim Nam kwon 김남권 4 October 2011 박근혜 野시절 40대 0 신화 이번엔 Park Geun hye scored 40 to 0 as the opposition How about this time Yonhap News in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 Kim Min ja 김민자 29 March 2012 선거의 여왕 박근혜 총선에서 뒷심 발휘할까 Queen of elections Park Geun hye Could she wield her magic again in April NewsIs in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 Politician Wants To Save Korea South Korean National Assembly member advocates alliance with United States The Harvard Crimson 13 February 2007 Retrieved 16 May 2012 The Republic of Korea and the United States Our Future Together Institute for Corean American Studies Inc 21 February 2007 Retrieved 16 May 2012 An Address Delivered at the ARCO John F Kennedy Jr Forum John F Kennedy School of Government Harvard University Lee Myung bak The New York Times 25 July 2012 Retrieved 13 November 2012 South Korea Park Likely to be First Female President Spearhead Research 28 August 2012 Archived from the original on 16 April 2013 Retrieved 13 November 2012 a b c Sung Yeon chul 성연철 12 April 2012 선거의 여왕 화려한 귀환 수도권 젊은층에선 한계 Return of Queen of election Park also showed her limit among capital area voters and the youth The Hankyoreh in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 Kim Jeong ha 김정하 Hur Jin 허진 Sohn Guk hee 손국희 14 April 2012 청바지 유세 고개 흔들던 박근혜 30분 뒤 Park Geun hye shook head for wearing jeans but after 30 minutes changed her mind JoongAng Ilbo in Korean Archived from the original on 23 May 2013 Retrieved 16 May 2012 Kim Sung gon 김성곤 15 December 2011 여왕의 화려한 귀환 박근혜가 돌아왔다 Return of Queen of election Park Geun hye returned as GNP leader Edaily News in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 Kim Hwa young 김화영 8 September 2011 박근혜 대세론 휘청 스타일 변화 모색 Park Geun hye s top candidate position is challenged needs to change her style Yonhap News in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 Faced with rising Ahn Cheol soo s approval rate Park Geun hye s leadership is in question Sending messages wouldn t be enough and she must increase her appearance in public Park will try to tackle the center 安風에 대세론 제동 걸려 정치적 시험대 올라 메시지 정치 서 현장정치 로 중도층 공략 본격화 예상 Fackler Martin 20 April 2012 In a Rowdy Democracy a Dictator s Daughter With an Unsoiled Aura The New York Times Retrieved 13 July 2019 Kim Nam kwon 김남권 10 September 2011 박근혜 안철수 여론조사 엎치락뒤치락 Poll Park Geun hye and An Cheol soo are in fierce competition Yonhap News in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 All eyes on public opinion after Chuseok holiday 추석 연휴 직후 민심 향배 에 이목 집중 박근혜 대선 출마선언 대선레이스 본격 점화 news donga com 10 July 2012 박근혜 컨벤션 효과 안철수 지지율도 동반상승 Park Geun hye convention effect Ahn Cheol soo s approval rating rises also in 2012 in Korean home survey 2012 survey by Realmeter joongang joinsmsn com Archived from the original on 26 January 2013 home survey 2012 survey by Realmeter joongang joinsmsn com Archived from the original on 26 January 2013 Harlan Chico 19 December 2012 Park Geun hye wins South Korea s presidential election The Washington Post Retrieved 8 April 2018 McCurry Justin 4 August 2017 South Korea spy agency admits trying to rig 2012 presidential election the Guardian 한국아이닷컴 Archived from the original on 8 June 2012 a b 2007년 줄푸세 시장주의 2012년 맞춤형 복지 경제민주화 15 April 2012 나눔뉴스 세종시 피로감에 박근혜 지지율 하락세 nanumnews com 2012 Maeil Sinmoon article imaeil com 10 February 2012 KOCIS Korean Culture and Information Service Korea net The official website of the Republic of Korea korea net Ock Hyun ju 9 May 2017 Did jailed ex president Park Geun hye use her vote The Korea Herald Archived from the original on 14 May 2017 Retrieved 13 May 2017 According to local news reports she gave up her right to vote as she did not ask for an absentee ballot which is provided to inmates in detention facilities 부흥 융성 소명 박 대통령 취임사 60년대 데쟈뷰 뉴스1 25 February 2013 Park s swearing in draws record 70 000 participants The Korea Herald 24 February 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 Legislative Speaker Wang attends S Korea president s inauguration China Post Retrieved 29 October 2016 THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CHEONG WA DAE Archived from the original on 8 December 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 THE SCIENCE 박근혜정부 조직개편안 미래部 성장동력 창출 부총리는 정책 총괄 Retrieved 16 October 2015 Wilson Scott DeYoung Karen 7 May 2013 Obama South Korea s Park present united front against North Korea at joint appearance The Washington Post Retrieved 8 April 2018 SBS 뉴스 리다이렉트 페이지 7 May 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 Korean Culture and Information Service KOCIS Korea net The official website of the Republic of Korea Retrieved 16 October 2015 THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CHEONG WA DAE Archived from the original on 3 December 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 a b Korean Culture and Information Service KOCIS Korea net The official website of the Republic of Korea Retrieved 16 October 2015 THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CHEONG WA DAE Archived from the original on 4 December 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 North Korea profile BBC News 26 March 2014 South Korean President Park Geun hye s North Korean Strategy The Heritage Foundation Retrieved 16 October 2015 UN Security Council Passes New Resolution 2094 on North Korea Retrieved 16 October 2015 北 남북 당국간 회담 전격 제의 정부 수용 5 June 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 North and South Korea to hold talks next week BBC News BBC 20 November 2015 Retrieved 16 December 2015 LEAD S Korean president calls on Pyongyang to accept trust building process 6 June 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 South Korean President Park Geun hye answers questions The Washington Post 7 May 2013 asadal unikorea eng unikorea go kr Trust The Underlying Philosophy of the Park Geun Hye Administration Retrieved 16 October 2015 SBS 뉴스 리다이렉트 페이지 28 June 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 3rd LD S Korea to participate in Russian led rail port development project in N Korea 12 November 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 대한민국 청와대 president go kr Archived from the original on 2 January 2014 Park seeks Russia s support in resolving North Korean nuclear standoff 6 September 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 Viktor Ishaev priglasil korejcev k sovmestnomu osvoeniyu kosmosa Rossijskaya gazeta 26 February 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 미래창조과학부 Archived from the original on 19 August 2013 Retrieved 21 August 2013 박근혜 대통령 일자리 서민 위주로 조속히 추경 편성 3 April 2013 Retrieved 3 April 2013 Nissen A 2023 The European Union Emerging Global Business and Human Rights Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 254 ISBN 9781009284301 Australia signs free trade agreement with South Korea in Seoul ABC 8 April 2014 The zeitgeist Rooting out social vices JoongAng Ilbo 24 May 2013 Archived from the original on 9 June 2013 4대 사회악 근절 위한 추진본부 발족시킬 것 Four Major Social Evils promotion headquarter will be established The Hankyoreh in Korean 14 March 2013 국민대통합위 오늘 출범 초대 위원장에 한광옥 17 June 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2015 Kang Jin kyu 20 May 2013 Park attends memorial of Gwangju massacre Joongang Daily Archived from the original on 15 June 2013 Retrieved 20 May 2013 Park Says Once Divided Germany Is Model for Korea Reunification Bloomberg com 26 March 2014 Retrieved 16 October 2015 arirang Arirang International Broadcasting Foundation News View The World On Arirang Retrieved 16 October 2015 S Korean Leader Warns of Nuclear Domino if North Conducts Test May 30 2014 NTI South Korea to break up coastguard after ferry disaster BBC 19 May 2014 Retrieved 21 May 2014 Kwon K J Hancocks Paula Mullen Jethro 19 May 2014 South Korean president dismantles coast guard after ferry disaster CNN Retrieved 16 October 2015 South Korea launches new safety agency San Diego Union Tribune Associated Press 18 November 2014 Retrieved 8 April 2018 Park calls for cooperation with China led AIIB Yonhap News Agency 26 May 2015 Retrieved 12 June 2015 Jun Kwanwoo Gale Alastair 26 March 2015 South Korea Says It Will Join China Led Investment Bank The Wall Street Journal Retrieved 12 June 2015 Park leaves for Iran for talks with Rouhani May 2016 Retrieved 29 October 2016 Korean pres makes historic visit to Tehran 1 May 2016 Retrieved 29 October 2016 Park on landmark visit to Tehran economy high on agenda 1 May 2016 Retrieved 29 October 2016 South Korean election setback deals severe blow to President Park Geun hye s economic reform agenda South China Morning Post 14 April 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Park s election meddling may backfire The Korea Times 21 March 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Park may stay in power after 2018 The Korea Times 25 March 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Saenuri s defeat brewing political upheaval The Korea Times 14 April 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Park loyalists tumble The Korea Times 13 April 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Conservative rout leaves South Korea s Park Geun hye a lame duck The Australian 14 April 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 Vote defeat for South Korea s Park raises lame duck prospect Reuters 14 April 2016 Retrieved 14 April 2016 한국갤럽조사연구소 Retrieved 16 October 2015 MoneyToday 朴대통령 지지율 63 급반등 취임후 최고 Retrieved 16 October 2015 Park s popularity hits new low 23 January 2015 Retrieved 29 October 2016 South Korea President Park s Approval Highest in Year and a Half bloomberg com 3 September 2015 Retrieved 29 December 2015 Park and Saenuri s approval ratings dip to new lows The Korea Times 18 April 2016 Archived from the original on 4 May 2016 Retrieved 19 April 2016 a b 데일리 오피니언 제234호 2016년 11월 1주 Daily Opinion No 234 1 November 2016 Gallup Korea a b South Korea s presidency on the brink of collapse as scandal grows Washington Post 29 October 2016 a b 한국갤럽 여론조사 박근혜 대통령 지지율 4 2 December 2016 Park Si soo 31 March 2017 PARK GEUN HYE ARRESTED The Korea Times Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 Retrieved 1 April 2017 Park who was awaiting the ruling at a room of the Seoul Central Prosecutors Office was taken to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang Gyeonggi Province soon after the decision was announced Park in prison garb is expected to travel back and forth to the prosecutors office for additional questioning before being formally indicted Kim Tong Hyung 31 March 2017 Ousted South Korean leader goes from presidential palace to solitary cell The Associated Press via The Toronto Star Retrieved 1 April 2017 Park Geun hye entered the Seoul Detention Center in a black sedan before dawn Friday after a court approved her arrest on corruption allegations a b Former President Park Lotte chairman indicted on corruption charges Korea Times 17 April 2017 Archived from the original on 17 April 2017 Retrieved 17 April 2017 Kim Hyung jin 17 April 2017 Ex South Korean leader Park indicted faces trial Associated Press via ABC News Retrieved 17 April 2017 All the Queen s men and women The Straits Times Retrieved 12 May 2017 Shin Hyonhee Yang Heekyong Kim Christine 27 February 2018 Macfie Nick ed South Korean prosecutors seek 30 years jail for ousted Park as supporters demand her release Reuters Se jeong Kim 6 April 2018 Court orders 24 years in jail for former President Park Korea Times Choe Sang hun 6 April 2018 Park Geun hye South Korea s Ousted President Gets 24 Years in Prison The New York Times Retrieved 6 April 2018 Paula Hancocks Yoonjung Seo James Griffiths 6 April 2018 Former South Korean President Park Geun hye sentenced to 24 years in prison CNN www japantimes co jp https www japantimes co jp news 2018 06 15 asia pacific south korea jails ex spy chiefs bribing former president park geun hye Retrieved 22 June 2018 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Appellate court slashes prison term of ex President Park to 20 yrs in retrial Yonhap News 10 July 2020 Park Geun hye South Korea court upholds 20 year jail term for ex leader BBC News 14 January 2021 Park Geun hye South Korea court upholds 20 year jail term for ex leader BBC News 14 January 2021 a b Reuters staff 31 December 2021 S Korea s ex president Park freed after nearly 5 years in prison Reuters Al Jazeera Retrieved 2 January 2022 Chang Jin bok 장진복 24 March 2011 이해찬 野 총선승리 시 박근혜 별명은 독재자의 딸 Lee Hae chan If the oppositions win the legislative election Park Geun hye s nickname will change from Queen of election to daughter of a dictator NewsIs in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 Ko Dong seok 고동석 10 January 2011 손학규 누가 뭐래도 박근혜는 박정희의 딸 Sohn Hak kyu No one can deny Park Geun hye is the daughter of dictator Park Jeonghui News Hankook in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 약속 2012 대선 여론조사 안철수 지지기반 30 40대서 지지율 뚝 왜 www donga com 16 July 2012 a b Lee Young Im 21 July 2016 From first daughter to first lady to first woman president Park Geun Hye s path to the South Korean presidency Feminist Media Studies 17 3 377 391 doi 10 1080 14680777 2016 1213307 ISSN 1468 0777 S2CID 151382460 Was it a coup or a revolution The Hankyoreh 9 August 2012 Retrieved 9 August 2012 An leading Park in latest polls The Hankyoreh 30 July 2012 Retrieved 9 August 2012 한국갤럽조사연구소 Retrieved 29 October 2016 Park Geun hye denies involvement in scandal ridden foundation The Hankyoreh 22 October 2012 Retrieved 13 November 2012 a b Seong Yeon cheol 16 July 2012 Park Geun hye s flip flopping and double talking The Hankyoreh Retrieved 8 April 2018 CHOE SANG HUN 10 May 2013 South Korean President Fires Spokesman for Unsavory Act During Visit to U S New York Times Retrieved 10 May 2013 Lee Chi dong 10 May 2013 4th LD Park sacks spokesman Yoon amid sexual assault allegations Yonhap News Agency Retrieved 10 May 2013 Constitution of the Republic of Korea Archived from the original on 10 July 2012 Sang Hun Choe 18 April 2013 South Korean Intelligence Officers Are Accused of Political Meddling The New York Times News Analysis SKorea rattled by spy agency s political interference Philstar com Prosecutor general calls it quits koreatimes 13 September 2013 Prosecutors are swayed by internal conflict and external pressure www donga com 리서치뷰 국정원 경찰수사발표가 대선 결과 영향 52 8 www polinews co kr 대통령 기자회견 Presidential Press Conference in Korean Jeonbuk Daily 11 February 2015 News Analysis Park Geun hye s first year principle vs non communication Xinhua 25 February 2014 Archived from the original on 19 October 2015 Anti government protesters rally in South Korea www aljazeera com Retrieved 14 November 2015 S Korea protesters clash with police in Seoul BBC News BBC News 14 November 2015 Retrieved 14 November 2015 South Korea Country report Freedom in the World 2015 Retrieved 28 February 2016 Korean Prosecutors Indict Japanese Journalist on Defamation Charge WSJ wsj com Retrieved 1 November 2016 US journal criticizes Park s regression into dictatorship m koreatimes co kr 18 July 2016 Retrieved 1 November 2016 Park s mention can be treated as a violation of public official election act http finance daum net news news content daum docid MD20150628171008128 Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ruling party floor leader resigns amid party s internal feud YTN https www youtube com watch v dvxXJr4PeIE South Korea s Moon Says 2015 Comfort Women Agreement With Japan Flawed Voice of America English www voanews com Retrieved 6 June 2021 Investigations into Choi Soon sil gate widening The Korea Times 23 October 2016 All the Queen s men and women The Straits Times Retrieved 21 March 2017 박 대통령 독대한 대기업들 미르 K 출연금 유독 많았다 hani co kr 3 November 2016 안선희의 밑줄 긋기 재벌들이 피해자라고 hani co kr 3 November 2016 단독 미르 K스포츠재단 모금 안종범 수석이 지시했다 news donga com November 2016 McCurry Justin 30 October 2016 Rasputin like friend of South Korean president returns amid protests The Guardian 검찰 안종범 전 정책조정수석 긴급체포 서울남부구치소로 이송 news donga com Archived from the original on 4 November 2016 President Park breaks YS s record approval rating at 5 percent Oh My News 6 November 2016 Park orders secretaries to resign over Choi Soon sil scandal The Korea Times 28 October 2016 Kim Jack 29 October 2016 Thousands protest in South Korea demand president quit over scandal Reuters 100만명 이 지하철 통계로 증명됐다 huffingtonpost kr 13 November 2016 들불로 번진 2주연속 100만 촛불혁명 26일 300만 예고 news nate com Dreaming of a new world one million candles again burn nationwide english hani co kr Left wings outrage regarding text firing of Hwang Kyo ahn KyungHyang 3 November 2016 Prime minister Hwang Kyo ahn fired by president Park via a text message Insight Agence France Presse 20 November 2016 Choi gate prosecutors accuse South Korean president of collusion The Guardian 최순실 딸 친구 부모 민원 들어주고 1000만원 샤넬백 등 5000만원 챙겨 news chosun com 22 July 2020 檢 헌정사상 첫 현직 대통령 피의자 입건 3명과 공모범행 종합 news nate com Breen Michael 29 November 2016 South Korea s President Park and the beast of public sentiment www atimes com Retrieved 2 December 2016 McCurry Justin 29 November 2016 South Korea s president calls on parliament to arrange her exit The Guardian Retrieved 29 November 2016 Agence France Presse 3 December 2016 South Korean president Park Geun Hye to face impeachment vote The Guardian Retrieved 3 December 2016 Sang hun Choe 9 December 2016 South Korea Parliament Votes to Impeach President Park Geun hye The New York Times Retrieved 9 December 2016 Joo Youngjae 9 December 2016 속보 박근혜 대통령 탄핵소추안 가결 찬성 234 반대 56 무효 7 기권 2 Kyunghyang in Korean Retrieved 9 December 2016 Park Ju min Kim Jack 9 December 2016 South Korean parliament votes overwhelmingly to impeach President Park Reuters South Korea president Park Geun hye ousted by court BBC 10 March 2017 Retrieved 10 March 2017 Taehoon Lee 27 March 2017 Arrest warrant sought for ousted South Korean president CNN Retrieved 27 March 2017 Ex South Korean president Park Geun hye arrested BBC 30 March 2017 Retrieved 30 March 2017 Jugan sisah magazine 6 April 2018 Park Geun hye sentenced for 24 years with 180 billion won fine Juganshisamagazine weekly magazines An Jaeseung 안재승 Choe Ikrim 최익림 Hong Dae sun 홍대선 Sin Seung geun 신승근 3 April 1998 한나라 재보선 4곳 석권 GNP won all four seats of by election The Hankyoreh in Korean Retrieved 16 May 2012 대구 달성에선 이날 자정 현재 82 개표 상황에서 박근혜 후보가 2만8937표 51 5 를 얻어 1만 6355표 29 1 를 얻은 엄삼탁 국민회의 후보를 크게 앞지르며 당선됐다 In Dalseong Daegu 82 votes were counted by 12 am And Park Geun hye got 28 937 52 votes compared to 16 355 29 votes for Eom Samtak of Democratic Party Park has been elected by wide margin a b 중앙선거관리위원회 역대 선거정보 시스템 NEC past election result Archived from the original on 18 February 2013 Retrieved 16 May 2012 중앙선거관리위원회 18대 국회의원 선거관리 시스템 National Election Committee 18th legislative election information Archived from the original on 4 September 2012 Retrieved 16 May 2012 Voting figures for proportional representation by parties in Korean National Election Commission Retrieved 16 May 2012 permanent dead link 새누리당 비례대표 당선자 박근혜 Saenuri Proportional Representation elect Park Geun hye Yonhap News in Korean 12 April 2012 Retrieved 16 May 2012 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Park Geun hye Official website Archived 12 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine in English Park Geun hye addresses U S Korea Relations in a Changing World at Stanford University 6 May 2009 Park Geun hye s speech at the JFK Jr Forum Harvard University 12 February 2007 Star Rises for Daughter of South Korea The Washington Post 15 March 2005 All the Queen s men and women The Straits Times 20 March 2017 Appearances on C SPANHonorary titlesPreceded byYuk Young soo First Lady of South KoreaActing16 August 1974 26 October 1979 Succeeded byHong GiNational Assembly of the Republic of KoreaPreceded byGim Suk won Member of the National Assemblyfrom Dalseong County3 April 1998 29 May 2012 Succeeded byLee Jong jinParty political officesPreceded byChoe Byeong ryeol Leader of the Grand National Party23 March 2004 10 July 2006 Succeeded byKang Jae supPreceded byHong Jun pyoas Leader of the Grand National Party Leader of the Saenuri Party17 December 2011 15 May 2012 Succeeded byHwang Woo yeaPolitical officesPreceded byLee Myung bak President of South Korea25 February 2013 10 March 2017 Suspended 9 December 2016 10 March 2017 Succeeded byHwang Kyo ahn acting Moon Jae in Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Park Geun hye amp oldid 1131196518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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